November 2012-- February 2013 Posts

Date: Fri, March 01, 2013, 08:50:11 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

www.donaldfagen.com now goes directly to a Facebook page...

Date: Fri, March 01, 2013, 05:25:27 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

You can get Dirk Hamilton's album on Itunes, I downloaded it a couple of years ago and it's a little gem, such as "Mannequin" by Marc Jordan , also produced by Gary Katz, to me , not far from Aja's standards, give it a chance.
Philippe

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 23:07:23 ET
Posted by: John Granatino, Texas

Hello Jim and fellow addicts,

I have just been made aware (by wallowing through all the posts in this fine establishment) that some of the stories I posted on my site 17 years ago are no longer readable by contemporary browsers. Putting aside the fact that I can't believe I'm old enough to have been posting on the web 17 years ago, I'm mortified that I did not previously realize the coding problem. I hope to dive back into the old stories and fix them soon. Maybe at the same time I will finally post the 200 or so other articles about the Dan that I've saved up over the years!

All the best,
John Granatino
http://www.granatino.com/sdresource (hmm, time for that URL to get its own home address as well)

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 22:36:44 ET
Posted by: Cold Porter, amid the stacks of plumes

thanks for the Gary katz Interview link!!!

radio was great in the late '70s...WLIR especially......
also WRVR as a jazz station

it seems that Hamilton was sort of continuing Katz dream to create some sort of new CA fold souund...a la Thomas jefferson kaye.....would be great to hear...Rainey is on bass I think...but none of it is in youtube

this was a hot album in 1978...a collectors item...even then as MFSL didn't have much distribution
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MFSL-STEELY-DAN-KATY-LIED-LP-AUDIOPHILE-/160980113282?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item257b299782

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 19:26:43 ET
Posted by: Randy Banks, Berkeley, CA

Just listened to Pavlova Shoes on YouTube. It's supposed to be a bonus track from Dirk's You Can Sing album. I'm not familiar with this man's work. I thought I might hear some jazz influences, but he's clearly steeped in the folk music genre.

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 18:20:19 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Lutz, actually I'm the one who should apologize. Seconds after posting I just googled Jim Beard, went to his site and saw what you posted. I should have done that BEFORE I posted. But I just don't think that clearly when I am stone-cold sober.

My bad.

Anyone find anything from the Dirk Hamilton album (You Can Sing On The Left Or Bark On The Right) produced by Gary Katz (and with a host of SD regulars) streaming online? Cold Porter posted some images from it a couple days ago. A quick search revealed some Hamilton youtube vids but nothing direct from that album. Might be something worth a quick listen.

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 12:46:22 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

yes - Jim Beard, sorry Dean.

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 12:28:24 ET
Posted by: Askin, R

Would Everyone's Gone to the Movies have been too politically incorrect to get released today?

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 12:19:09 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Lutz, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume you are referring to Jim Beard.

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 11:53:28 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

"Jim has just finished recording a solo piano cd. Release is scheduled for late summer/early autumn 2013. Jim will be going on the road with various artists between April and November in Europe and North America. Some dates will be Jim's own group"

and most of the dates will be?
getting warmer here...

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 08:54:36 ET
Posted by: 2vN, 2-29-2000

That was a good day.

Date: Thurs, February 28, 2013, 05:26:10 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

kzkzkz. Cindy Mizelle is gorgous and a great singer too !!

Date: Wed, February 27, 2013, 22:53:52 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, Cowelland

"Not enough can be said about artists like Cindy Mizelle" -
Mariah Carey (On tonight's American Idol episode as she gave props to the shows background singers).

Date: Wed, February 27, 2013, 20:31:38 ET
Posted by: tommytomato, Columbus OH

Hats off to Lurker Ray! I just found that DF & Steely Dan live stuff that you had a hand in liberating late last year. Outstanding...pure musical joy!

Date: Wed, February 27, 2013, 02:17:57 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hello everyone, I hereby certify that this message has strictky nothing to do with Steely Dan but Ithought it culd make you laugh a bit so here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mWYYnW8AhY

It's from the Cesar(our own little Oscar) ceremony last week, someone said the director for StarWars 7 had been choosen, that it was Michael Haneke and they had the trailer.
Enjoy

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 22:01:43 ET
Posted by: More albums, More albums, More albums,, More albums, More ahhl....bums

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 21:33:38 ET
Posted by: About, Dirk Hamilton

Cold Porter: http://www.granatino.com/sdresource/17katz.htm

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 20:49:03 ET
Posted by: Cold Porter, Moes Books

anyone ever heard of this...looks interesting

http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=3790611

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 20:12:09 ET
Posted by: Bud Miles, Las Vegas

I hope they bring back the jazzy horn version of Reelin' In the Years that was first played during the 1993 tour. I'm tired of the old original 1973 version they've been playing from these last several tours.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 19:14:10 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa, FL

While I'd love to get another new "Steely Dan" album, a Summer tour would be the next best thing.
My favorite part of the tours is how they put a new spin on a classic older tune like "Your Gold Teeth II" or even back in 2000 "The Boston Rag" which opened up the "Two Against Nature" tour.
They tweak the song just enough that it sounds like a modernized version of the Classic tune.
I have gotten tired of some of the tunes that they always seem to do like "Hey Nineteen", "Aja" & even "Peg", but just hearing them do "Kid Charlemagne" (which only gets better each time I hear it) makes it more than worthwhile.
Now if the boys can't go on tour this year, how about them releasing a DVD or Box Set of the "Beacon Theatre" shows from 2011 that likely covered 80-90% of their Catalog of songs.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 15:47:56 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading to the Manatee Bar. Save me a seat!

I think there is about a zero chance there will be a new SD album this year--certainly not a studio album--as we have yet to hear any news about it. If any tracks had been recorded we would likely know. There are always leaks from studios and musicians. And Don has been asked about it a number of times and hasn't mentioned it. If anything Don speaks too soon about an album. He tells us there is a new one coming next year, we can be almost certain it won't drop until the next year, at the earliest.

Now, it is absolutely possible they will begin working on a new album this year, but that means it is likely to be released at least one or two years down the road. If they skip touring to actively record, I'm fine with that.

I suppose there is also a remote possibility Walt has something new, as he stays pretty tight-lipped and hasn't been interviewed much recently. But I doubt this, too.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 15:39:24 ET
Posted by: Bob,

Bring on the SD tee shirts, it's Tour Time!!!

We have plenty of albums, MTC and SC.

Enough, let's hear some live SD.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 15:35:00 ET
Posted by: Mr. Brewster, San Francisco

Of course. Why would Donald join Boz and Michael for another Dukes of September tour this year? It's gonna be a Steely Dan tour for 2013.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 15:31:34 ET
Posted by: Josey, Mass

Wayne Shorter will be celebrating his 80th year of living at this years Newport Jazz Fest. I'm going to be laughing in disbelief over how damn good he still is along with John Patitucci, Brian Blade, and Danilo Perez! I'm also going to laugh at Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Roy Haynes and be thankful they haven't hung it up yet.

Count me amongst those who would much prefer a new album to a tour. I would likely skip the tour this year...I would buy a new release the day it comes out!

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 15:12:29 ET
Posted by: pixeleen,

Just received the "to date" Wolf Trap 2013 schedule. Boz and Michael Mc. together in July......no Donald.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 13:03:08 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

two cents - I'd prefer an album over a tour, but that seems increasingly unlikely.

Plus, tours are awesome.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 10:19:40 ET
Posted by: Hutch, again

Looks like the "No Business" part of Donald's web site has been pared down to the biography and the picture gallery. I do see some photos that I don't recall seeing before.
Just looking for some news of some kind.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 10:08:51 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

The Dean - Very good points. Excellent post.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 09:55:42 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

"two cents" posted: "back in the 70s if an old band was touring we Laughed at them for trying to recapture their youth" I'm going to guess that says far more about your youth, than it does about these mature artists. But there are times when I might somewhat agree with your hyperbolic comment. To me, it depends on what the artist did in the past and what they are currently doing.

Do you laugh at an old blues musician still playing and singing his heart out? Do you laugh at old bluegrass musicians, who can still rip it? Would you laugh at an aging classical pianist, or a jazz musician who still play as well they did 20 years ago? If you laughed at stuff like that in the 70's, it was likely your immaturity and your inability to appreciate various genres of music. If you still do that, perhaps you have not matured.

But I agree some acts seem a little embarrassing--especially those who are mired in teenage-based music and performance. Maybe even worse are artists who adopt the language, mannerisms and music of the current generation to "reinvent themselves" into something they hope is commercially viable. But Steely Dan is none of those things. They never seem to be attempting to "recapture their youth" to me--because let's face it, their youth doesn't seem like all that. When they were famous in their youth, they ran away from the spotlight and eventually the music industry.

I thought this article about Don summed the issue up pretty well:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578196090924711724.html

I'd prefer a new album to a new tour, but I will never complain about SD touring nor make the mistake to think they have passed their time to play live.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 07:49:18 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Hey kzkzkz - Steve Winwood is a top class artist and performer, who has had an illustrious career. Many would agree with you. He was also in the Spencer Davies Group having hits in the mid 60's ! Let's not have a go at the Dan fans on here. Both artists have had illustrious careers but in terms of legacy and songwriting Steely Dan and Donald Fagen will always be regarded in far greater esteem than the Midland Maniac Stevie W !

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 03:51:25 ET
Posted by: Cyril, London

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My lover has been gone since last year but she is back after i contacted this powerful Spell Caster.
I also say thank you him again for restoring my job during last week because i was also sacked in my work place but he helped me and i am still working fine and better.
I urge people here to try him and they will not be disappointed.
His email address is ( shrineforsolution@gmail.com )
His Cell number is +2348052236135.
I am Cyril,UK.

Date: Tues, February 26, 2013, 03:06:48 ET
Posted by: La Villa, Strangiatto

I somewhat agree with 'two cents'. I'd rather our boys spend their summer in the studio working on a new album than to see them live every year.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 23:35:50 ET
Posted by: My two cents worth, ,,,down in the bottom

re- Steely Dan tour for 2013


I for one hope they DO NOT tour...I think they and the entire rock world in general has gone over board with the live concert scene...tickets are outrageously priced and the band, including Steely dan play too many songs we've all heard before.....even the Stones 50th thing is a bit much.....back in the 70s if an old band was touring we Laughed at them for trying to recapture their youth.....today we sit google eyed and worship their nostalgia....

give it up guyys...go into the forest of life gracefully....


there I've said it
..more coffee please

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 23:30:19 ET
Posted by: Cold Porter, Steely Dan University

40 years ago....Do It Again..hits #1

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zMowAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cQUEAAAAIBAJ&dq=do%20it%20again%20steely&pg=4351%2C2561013

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 20:29:28 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

The blue almost always makes me smile, andit sometimes makes me laugh out loud. When I got to the last line of Hoops' post, I cackled - "I now apologize for my posting." I'm surprised it hasn't been used as the closing line of every subsequent post.

I now apologize for my posting.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 19:12:33 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, at the other end of the line

Dean, that's very kind! Best regards to "Lloyd The Bartender" from me! However, since we yet don't have the technology to transfer drinks pr. wire, you'll have to drink it for me. You can do that much for an old internet buddy, can't you? ;o)

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 18:16:07 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Jazzy.

"Life would be ecstacy, you and me and Leslie"

That's some funny shit right there. The bar wants to buy you a drink.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 17:47:41 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Hey B3, that's Aretha Franklin

Some dig organ trios, some don't.

But it's a fact that in '67, a very good and merited pop band made a number one hit single that is a love declaration to a Hammond B3. The narrator is so into this affair, he even suggests a threesome with the organ's cousin (gender unknown), however inappropriate it may appear by today's moral standards. Remember that this was in a time of spiritual and sexual liberation.

The song was "Groovin'" by The Young Rascals. Here's an excerpt from the lyrics, sung by Felix Cavaliere:

"Life would be ecstacy, you and me and Leslie"

So there.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 16:48:15 ET
Posted by: Ben, Indy

R.I.P. "Dangerous" Dan Toler

http://www.jambands.com/news/2013/02/25/dangerous-dan-toler-1948-2013

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 14:17:14 ET
Posted by: hoops, on the quick, in chicago

"Booking Dept."

Yeah, that'll happen right after SD does the private $5,000 a ticket show for Danfan internet regulars. Uh-huh.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 11:15:45 ET
Posted by: booking dept,

Maybe Donald would do a one-off show at Chicago bronzville if it could hold 2000 people. He could team up with one of the hot bands in Chicago. He played in Woodstock with the Helms and last week did that Oh Whitney show.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 10:48:38 ET
Posted by: TT,

When I know Sam Yahel is going to open I take my time and go to Wal mart or KFC and avoid the traffic and lines and get there just in time for when the Dan starts up. Only if it is Steve Winwood, Kanye West or anybody else that is good I would get there very early.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 10:39:37 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Hoops, Deep Blue Organ Trio was the other artist I was referring to in my earlier post. Thanks for clearing that up.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 10:36:16 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, without reading all the posts

While Sam Yahel clearly have DW & WB's endorsement, I'm burnt out on Sam Yahel 's group for the time being and would scroll by those posts.

But there were some other swell openers. My recent fav was Deep Blue Organ Trio.

BTW: It wasn't noted, but right on the way back from the Steely Dan gig at the Toledo Zoo, they were in a auto accident. Luckily no one was seriously hurt.

After an eight year residency at the Green Mill (where Howard Levy also plays with frequency, last I checked), they are now venue hopping.

As I alluded to in a post last week, I'm so thrilled and lucky to be part of a project to foster the music history and current jazz and blues scene in Chicago's Bronzeville (has a very similar history to Harlem). We're hoping to book Deep Blue for our summer events.

I now apologize for my posting.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 10:29:52 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

I guess I am one of the few who enjoyed Sam Yahel. The first time I saw the Trio I was very impressed. They were perfectly decent the second time. Like DYLYNFAN, I wonder how many of those who bash him here have actually sat down and listened attentively during his set. I know it is tough when everyone is milling around--and if there are people near you they won't shut the fuck up--but did you TRY?

For what it's worth, I don't disagree with the notion that it might be time to change things up a bit--but not because "he still hasn't taken off as a star". Really? A star? Is that the level to which Steely Dan fandom has been reduced? Is this now Steely Dan Idol?

I think it might be tough to find the right opening act for the Dan these days--at least the same opening act for an entire tour. Keep in mind, Don and Walt have to like the act and they have to be available for a long stretch and willing to play a short set under less-than-ideal conditions before a crowd that increasingly seems like a bunch of douchebags. I have to believe there was a time when Dan would listen to the opening act. Unless that act is a big name, I no longer think that's the case. Pretty sad, IMO.

Perhaps the solution is to have regional opening acts. That might make it a bit more interesting to the crowd and allows SD to use artists that can't be available for the entire tour. Of course it is more work for management, so I don't expect that to happen. But there were glimpses of this when Bill Charlap opened for them in the NY area (do I have that right?) and another band opened some shows out west, I think. I would love to see Charlap with SD. How about Sonny Rollins? (And, yes, I know Rollins is not a "regional act".)

As for Stevie W and Rod S, they are probably a perfect paring for most of their fans. I was a huge fan of Winwood back in the Traffic days, but he sold out big time and released some really terrible solo stuff, IMO. I know he has returned to the music of those early days in recent years--still I am wary. I might see him if he played somewhere close--and cheap. I've never liked Stewart, but at least he was involved with some good music at one time (remember when he ruined Beck Ola?). That crap he spewed during the disco period was unbearable (and of course sold like crazy). His pitiful attempts to sing the standards have also been good sellers, I think. Never overestimate the taste of the general public.

Now that last paragraph might seem a little "douche-baggy" because it is! But I guarantee if I found myself at a concert and Rod was singing (or doing that thing he calls "singing") I wouldn't be talking, walking around and generally disturbing those who might actually want to hear Rod and his band. And i would do my best to appreciate whatever there was to be appreciated as long as I was there. (I bet the backing band is pretty good.)

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 10:18:22 ET
Posted by: WT?, F

There is a Sam Yahel fan page. And they are tired of the same damn band providing the exit music as they leave his concerts.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 09:19:46 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, slowhand lane

FWIW, Stevie also gigged heavily with Eric Clapton a couple of years ago, has a strong solo catalogue that he's toured on his own and was in Traffic...twice!
Also, word is that this year Rod will return to his rock (Faces, early solo) roots and put on anything but a )) yawn (( adult contemporary show.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled, but NOT on the road again, Dan talk...

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 09:07:55 ET
Posted by: UH?,

What's good for Stevie Winwood should be good for Sam Yahel according to some people here. I say lets make a toast to good elevator music! Cheers Sam!

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 08:41:23 ET
Posted by: opener,

They need to change the opening act. No reason to keep using Sam Yahel. He was given a big break by SD to open for many years and he still hasn't taken off as a star. They could promote some other new artist.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 08:29:20 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

I am not sure how so many can rip on Sam Yahel, while I am not a
fan, the 4 times they opened at shows I went to, NOBODY was in there
seats during there set.Just Sayin.

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 00:53:30 ET
Posted by: UH?,

Well in that case...who's starting the Sam Yahel fan page?

Date: Mon, February 25, 2013, 00:33:48 ET
Posted by: hmmm,

Steve Winwood sat in with Steely Dan and together did some fantastic music. Winwood sang and played B3, and has quite an amazing pedigree.

Date: Sun, February 24, 2013, 16:57:47 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Steve;

I'm glad that you posted that. Sorry you were questioned and hope won't stop you or others from posting. Please accept apologies. If you started a thread discussing Steve Windwood songs indepth, I'd roll my eyes. I certainly don't mean to be an afront to "Uh" good intentions but I find his tour pairing of SW with Rod Stewart to be of interest simply because I sure don't put Rod Stewart in the same class as SD.

I hope this doesn't mean more (mainstream) press that Winwood likes to tour with Adult Contemporary pop artists like Rod and Steely Dan. Ecccchh!

I don't hear it as much, but it grates on me that a certain segment relegates SD as light jazz, a band that scored a couple hits in the mid-70s and recorded the album "Ah-zha."

Anyhow, when I read about SW touring with RS (opening for Rod?!) that was my immediate reaction.

Best to Steve, "Uh" and everyone else.

Jim

Date: Sun, February 24, 2013, 16:12:30 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

Being that Winwood was on the last Steely Dan tour, "Down Under" in 2011...I think it was worthwhile noting.
Had he gone on tour with the Dan this Summer, it would make the shows an even hotter ticket.
Steve has a lot of fans and is much more appealing than say ...The Sam Yahel Trio.

Date: Sun, February 24, 2013, 13:06:05 ET
Posted by: UH?,

Stevie Winwood played on the same bill as SD once so now he's a topic on a SD message board? Really?

Date: Sun, February 24, 2013, 07:39:38 ET
Posted by: Cold Porter, ....WDAS-FM

calling all DJ's....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steely-Dan-Aja-RARE-12-Promo-LP-3-Vinyl-Lot-Deacon-Blues-Josie-/200898024897?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item2ec67495c1

Date: Sat, February 23, 2013, 19:21:35 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, and why, see?

And Steve Winwood will be touring with Rod Stewart in the States too.

Date: Sat, February 23, 2013, 07:13:01 ET
Posted by: Bren, London UK

Just to let folks know that Steve Winwood has announced Tour dates in the UK in June...Tickets on-sale now

Date: Fri, February 22, 2013, 07:06:05 ET
Posted by: ,

RIP, Magic Slim.

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 13:42:54 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Apparently, fans of 50 Cent and Steely Dan share at least one common attribute ...

http://stereotype.fm/Steely%20Dan

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 11:13:53 ET
Posted by: Nick Grumby, first shift barkeep, the Manatee

Just prepping for brunch after first round of night shifters here, when Ginger comes down from the office with a strange note left by one of our more "out there" customers from last night's run. Apparently, after consuming an unholy quantity of zombies (even Ginger, our decidedly "old school" redhead beauty behind the bar, says she hasn't sold a zombie since Prince went all religious and moved back to Indy), the strange fellow who paid the tab posted this in a drunken scrawl on the back of the Mexican 500 peso note he paid with:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/steely-dan-drinking-songs/


Weird, huh? Oh well, we see it all here. Cheers, and y'all come. Catch ya later.


NG

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 07:31:28 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, @Bobbo

Link, please? ;o)

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 07:16:40 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Yihaa!

I was listening a LOT to Jon's 2012 album "Time Is On My Hands" a few months ago when it was new, and then put it to rest for a little while. Both to avoid abrasion damage to my ears and to give full focus to Sunken Condos when it finally arrived. And then came Snarky Puppy and invaded my defenceless mind. They've been spinning a lot ever since.
A couple of days ago I found out it was time to revisit Jon's to check if it's still as brilliant as I thought it was last year. It sure was!
Damn, what an incredibly fat, rich sounding and punchy thing! If one was allowed to own only one bluesrock/boogie based record in this life I think this one would be a wise choice. It's like a concentrated stock cube of all the best and most fundamental rock beats, basslines and guitar riffs in history refined and raised to a new level.
And since I've already been here hinting about the latest chapter in the everlasting reality show "Let's Rob Jimi Hendrix's Grave", I will use the opportunity to point out that some of the songs on "Time..." really have the ghost of Jimi in them. Imagine him doing "Shine (Shine Shine)"!
If there's people here who has yet not bought it or heard it in it's entirety I highly recommend you do. It's one of those records that's almost impossible not to like a lot I think. If you're into guitar based rock'n'roll at all, that is. Tons of playing pleasure, fun, charm and 100% pure positive energy. Jon's phrasings and his choice of guitar sounds constantly makes me smile from ear to ear if not break out in unrestrained laughter. It makes it tickle in my stomach and I just have to totally surrender. Like when the first insane rush of Owsley's Blotter finally passes and you just lay there screaming yihaa! ;o)

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 04:58:24 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Belated happy birthday to the maestro ! see you in the UK later this year Walter ?!!

Date: Thurs, February 21, 2013, 00:19:26 ET
Posted by: TheNightfly93, Jersey

There's been much discussion in the past few days (as March is coming up fast) about a TOUR being nixed or just not planned. I would just like to know how often is it that Dan tours are announced after March? I believe in 2011, it wasn't called until at least mid-April. I remember because I had just been invited to the SD FANS WORLDWIDE page around that time. I was waiting for at least 5 months (starting around New Years) for the announcement.

Long story short: with all of this chatter, good advice, and heavily leaning to the likelihood of no tour, I feel as though it truly is just too soon to call it.

I understand that Carlock/Herington are doing their own gigs in June (atleast). However, someone made a great point that they often gig outside of shows (i.e. in between dates or just later that night)... Just trying to get into the mix with it all!

P.s. in reference to Sam Yahel Trio and Nordstrom LOL! That was great.

Thanks, the Nightfly

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 23:57:43 ET
Posted by: Ben, Indy

Happy Birthday and many more to Capt. Becker!

I'd love for WB to release another album and also offer a box set like DF did a few years back. What about Dub versions of 11ToW and C$ and bring reggae totally back in '13?

Big Ups

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 22:45:19 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

I agree Jazzassin. When I listen to "Paging Audrey" or Someboody's Saturday Night" or "Surf and/or Die," I appreciate the songs independent of the "Steely Dan" reference. They are great songs and great records. I listen to them because of that fact. Happy Birthday, Walter...Hope to see you next year.

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 22:20:42 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

kz3, very nice find. I emailed it to several Dan fans before it finished.


Bobbo, I haven't seen you all day. It's all cool. But did you forget to leave a link?

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 21:54:31 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, Ah so

Whilst looking for any vids of The Donald w/ Oh Whitney (none found), I came upon this little ditty-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_-f_ApPRF0

Nice. Enjoy.

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 21:48:46 ET
Posted by: Bobbo, also at the Manitee--whassup Dean old buddy?

Hey All,

Found this mildly amusing icebreaker on a site I frequent occasionally...nothing new here for the baptised among us, but some interesting takes in short-form--and an almost-untouched, wide-open space for comments below.

Anybody wanna storm a public forum with a blinding cloud of Dan-heavy knowledge? (I'm sure there are other concoctions not mentioned in the Top 10 there, no?)


Yer Pal,
Bobbo


P.S. Hey Dean, if Mandy or my old lady Snake Traci call, I AM NOT HERE. Right? Thanks in advance, yo. Respect to the Manitee!

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 18:35:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Squirrel, Roger Nichols is spinning in his grave. Nice find.

Happy Birthday to Uncle Walt. He is never underrated by me.

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 16:49:28 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Thanks for the link from the Fagen
guest show in Cowtown last night.

Sounds like a fun night. Wish I
could have been there.

I remember back in the "dark days"
I always thought it was Donald not
Walter who didn't like to "play out".

Donald sure has squashed that thought
in recent years. Would L-O-V-E to
see a Becker solo show.

Wonder why a boot of the Slims show
never surfaced?

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 15:23:02 ET
Posted by: RJ Squirrel, Oddly tangential

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8957621/bruce-willis-career-arc


"Wendel," described by Popular Mechanics as "a sophisticated digital-computer drum synthesizer" designed by a former Steely Dan engineer named John Vigran.

WTF Grantland? Popular Mechanics gets it right about Wendel. Who will admit they have the Bruce Willis record?

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 13:30:50 ET
Posted by: fagenism, Bleecker Street

Happy bithday, Maestro Becker.

Great post, Jazzassin.

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 13:23:10 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, on this page right now

I agree with The Dean. While I don't think the Walter version of Monkey is BETTER than the original, it's certainly as good as it gets. Walter's slightly dopey voice and his timing suits the songs he sings. He owns them in a way hardly possible if one didn't write/co-write them.
Generally, I'm always a bit uncomfortable when people come here to tell how much they dislike Walter's vocals or guitar playing. As fans we should of course not feel obligated to like every fart they let go, but it's possible to show a minimum of respect for a man who, when all is said and done, actually always was one half of the songwriting duo called Steely Dan, isn't it? The legendary band, the musician's musicians, you know? The greatest band of all times to which this page is dedicated? Jeez, what's wrong with some of you guys? How about a little positivity when you judge the achievements of a man without whose contributions the whole Steely Dan catalog as we know it would never have existed?
There's enough disposable lowbrow music out there that you can quite safely diss here if you like (as long as it's in a Dangential context), just like for some, Steely Dan is the incarnation of everything music that they despise, and they can diss them as much as they like. On other pages.
This is THE Steely Dan fan page, and Steely Dan is 1/3 Walter, 1/3 Donald and 1/3 handpicked musicians to realize the musical visions of said duo. If you don't get that, you miss a basic understanding of SD's greatness.
If Walter chooses to jump off the Steely train and enjoy his tremendous success in a tempered climate with a J and a bottle of Cuervo Gold for the rest of his life, fine. He deserves it more than anyone I can think of.
And after all, something strange happened ... half of his most hardcore fan base was struck by a bad lightning or something and no longer remember who he is.

Anyway, Happy Birthday Walter! Forgive them, for they know not what they are saying.

And if somewhere on the way
We got a few good licks in
No one's ever gonna know
'Cause we're goin' out of business
Everything must go

Hoops: Wow! Sounds like you landed an interesting job restoring a piece of American musical history!

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 13:14:39 ET
Posted by: Denise, Hinktown

Best wishes for a happy birthday to Walter...also to Gretchen!

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 12:38:08 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Of course, The Bitter End is where we'd all prefer to see Walter, Donald and/or Steely Dan play; but I mention City Winery since we have one here in Chicago but not a Bitter End. Maybe Pete could open a satellite location here. (Seriously: Part of my "not so new anymore" job is to work with the city to restore The Stroll and related jazz and blues music venues on South State Street, South Michigan Avenue, 35th St and 43rd St.)

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 12:00:30 ET
Posted by: Pete, NYC

Since WB played at The Bitter End when he was in high school, I would prefer to see him play there than the City Winery.

Date: Wed, February 20, 2013, 11:18:07 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

* Thanks, Dean and Jazzassassin. Hopefully this fixes things for a little while longer than usual.

* Regarding as to whether and when there will be a tour: I'm certainly not at the top of the list as to predicting such things, but the rumblings from several rows back here suggest July through September. Good catch on the Herington date (to whomever caught that). It could be a good indicator of no tour. Yet, I also remember Jon rescheduling a date or two maybe a couple of years ago to accommodate a tour. Aside from any inside scoops some anon might post here, I'm waiting on the likes of Ravinia, Chastain and Tanglewood to release their subscribers' series ticket sales schedule in the next couple of weeks. That might give us a firmer hint. Last year, we had a flurry of schedule announcements during the second week of March.

* Regarding Walter, I think one big block is that SD fans are used to Donald as The Voice of Steely Dan. Would love a single Walter show at the City Winery venues. I so regret missing his single date in San Francisco in 1994.

Keep the faith!

Jim

Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013,  ET
Posted by: The Loyal Dandom, MacArthur Park

Happy Birthday, Walter Becker!

******
|||||
*********
*~~~~~~~*
* *
*****************
* *
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
* *

*****************
-------------------------------

[ Cake courtesy of the late and very great Boston Rag & hoops ]

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 23:25 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Sady, I'm with you. I think Walt sounds great on Monkey as well as a few other Dan tunes. I know we are in the minority here. But any chance to give Don a break from singing, while still maintaining the integrity of the song is a good idea as far as I'm concerned. While Walt may not be the fancies guitarist, everything he plays sounds like Steely Dan. I feel the same way about his vocals. He never sounds out-of-place when he sings these songs, unlike almost all other vocalists.

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 17:13 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Well you guys are more plugged in than I am, obviously. I just remember That Donald mentioned that they might record a new album and they usually record in the summer, no?

It's not mindless speculation... :-)

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 17:09 ET
Posted by: Shangri-La, Direct from Lhasa

For the curious, pix/details about DF's onstage rendezvous with Oh Whitney the other night: http://pingwi-fi.com/

Jazzassin, that's some mighty fine info about the new Hendrix release. Thanks.

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 15:04:52 ET
Posted by: hoops,

We have a bit of an automated spam loop going on and I'm preoccupied with work activities. I will take care of the problem in a couple of hours; in the mean time, if you post, there may be a delay of minutes or even a couple of hours before your post shows up.

Thanks for your patience.

Jim

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 13:51:52 ET
Posted by: Sady S.,

Hoops & etal:

Walt sounds sooooo good on this. Better than the original/studio version, I think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZeRHf4T6z0&NR=1&feature=endscreen

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 13:09:09 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, CORRECTION:

The planned Hendrix album was of course supposed to be named "First RAYS, not DAYS of the new rising sun". It was even released under that name in 1997. So there's to my lousy investigation before posting. But at least the version on soundcloud.com is another than the one that was released in '97.

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 12:13:59 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, 6 feet under along with Hendrix

Btw, talking about a reunited Beatles ... Jimi Hendrix puts out a new album on 03.05.2013 called "People, Hell & Angels" (Digital release date. Physical formats are expected to be out at t.o.t.m. March/April).

The songs were recorded between 1968-70 for the new album "First Days Of The New Rising Sun", that was supposed to be a follow-up to "Electric Ladyland".
Steven Stills and Buddy Miles plays on it too. Some of the material has been floating around for years, but this is properly produced and has at least one previously unheard gem, namely "Earth Blues" which can now be heard for the first time here:

https://soundcloud.com/legacyrecordings/jimi-hendrix-earth-blues/s-TpXeo

Enjoy!

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 10:47:17 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Play it, Sam.

Despite popularity and hype, KT Tunstall is imo a musical lightweight compared to any of the afforementioned alternatives, Sam Yahel included. She sounds like a billion others to me, and is one of those young girls that pops up regulary to be branded by the companies as the new Rickie or Carole. Which she is not. A nice everyday format, but nothing for the history books. But maybe that's exactly how an opening act should be. I suck at doing business related considerations when it comes to music.

The fact that so many seems to hate Sam Yahel Organ Trio (as an opnening act and generally) is a mystery to me. It seems like a very proper choice for Don & Walt to use an instrumental, classic organ swing trio. It resembles much of the music they've always loved and listened to, and is a proper sound scenery for the main act. They're not rock stars of course, but then again even D & W is uncomfortable with that label.

Norah Jones is pr.def. a much bigger name than Steely Dan these days in terms of commercial value, and would never appear as an opening act for anyone smaller than a reunited Beatles I think.

Rickie Lee Jones ... would be perfect - if she's in working condition. I have no idea, but the last time I saw her live (app. 10-12 yars ago) she was a downright scandal who could barely stand on her feet. A massive disappointment, and we all wondered how she got through the Norwegian customs at all. I think you all know what I mean.
But if she's in good form, she would be perfect. She's fairly Dangential too, when you take in consideration the musicians playing on her albums and her musical preferences. She even did a very personal version of Show Biz Kids on her 2000 album "It's Like This".

(Sidenote: "It's Like This"? WTF? Is that you, Rickie? Shouldn't you be at home composing fantastic songs and chasing dragons instead of coming here trolling all week?? Ok, that was a joke. Apologies, Rickie.)

But let's not rush the discussion about opening acts. We still don't know if there will be anyone to open for at all.

fagenism,
the Good Stuff cover was insanely clever done by one single person!
All respect to the craftsmanship of it. Probably a lot of fun and good rehearsal to do it, too. Let's hope he has even better use for his undisputable skills than to just clone another artist's song, which I can't see the point of doing in public other than to show the world that you actually can. Maybe I'm just envious. ;o)

Date: Tues, February 19, 2013, 09:05:17 ET
Posted by: fagenism, Bleecker Street

I think this cover of Good Stuff deserves a shoutout on the Blue; if nothing else, it serves as a nice reminder of what a freaken' impeccable tune this is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxwkKl-_UgM

*

Was out jogging with Morph The Cat playing in my ears the other day. Never felt so clean.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 22:17:39 ET
Posted by: king cole,

No more Sam YA HELL! I'm sick of that .

THey need to get KT Tunstall, NorahJones or somebody washed up like RIcki Lee Jones to open for them.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 21:43:56 ET
Posted by: Myron, Q

Jim, let's not speculate now.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 21:34:50 ET
Posted by: vic,

"by now"

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 21:34:12 ET
Posted by: vic,

Jim Taylor, Recording what? If a new SD was in the works we all would have found out about it now.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 21:32:06 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

Hey Chill, Sam Yahel @ Nordstom!! Funny shit and quote of the day.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 20:54:13 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

It may be that they are recording and Herington is working in the NYC area around the tracking? Anybody know how to check out Elliott Scheiner's bookings?

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 19:40:04 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Bob, here is the first article that I saw, posted by Doc Mu:

http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/02/13/oh-donald/


Not only could rehearsals start after that JH and KC's 6/13 show in NYC, actual concerts could start after (or even before) that. Right now, Jon has shows booked for 6/1, 6/7 and 6/13--all in the NYC/NJ area. Both Jon and Keith have played gigs on off-nights during a tour (and I think even some after SD gigs). It is preposterous leap to go from JH booking a few concerts in June to SD not touring this summer.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 19:32:14 ET
Posted by: Chill, OK

That Jun 13 gig might be just before rehearsals start in NY. Don't sweat it.

I'll worry when I hear that Sam Yahel landed a summer gig as the lobby pianist at Nordstrom.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 18:42:14 ET
Posted by: kzkzkz, NY oh why C

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 14:48:45 ET

Posted by: FF, X


It's not unthinkable that SD could tour without Herington. But you're right that it's not a good sign.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 12:41:38 ET
Posted by: geo,


I see that Jon Herington is starting to book his band during the summer. You all know what that means, right? No Steely Dan, DF or Duke's shows are being planned! I guess SC tanked. That sucks because it's a really wonderful record!
* * * * ** * * * ** * * * * * * * *

Just listed on NYC's Iridium Jazz Club site-

http://theiridium.com/events/1677/double-bill-the-jon-herington-band-and-keith-carlock-featuring-oz-noy/

06/13 7:30 PM & 9:30 - $30.00

THE JON HERINGTON BAND and KEITH CARLOCK featuring Oz Noy

“A powerhouse double bill of current members of Steely Dan with

guitarist Jon Herington and his band and drummer Keith Carlock featuring Oz Noy on guitar.”


The Jon Herington Band is Jon Herington, Dennis Espantman, and Frank Pagano.
Keith Carlock is featuring Oz Noy on guitar

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** ** * * *

(Maybe fall?)

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 18:22:04 ET
Posted by: Bob, Western World

What is the entire and detailed Oh Whitney story?

Very littled posted here on Donald's work with this band.

Thanks,
Bob

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 15:48:21 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading to the Manatee Bar

Agreed, it isn't unthinkable that The Dukes, Don solo or SD would tour without JH. But even if Jon is a necessary part of any tour, I'd refrain from getting too nervous right now. JH only has 7 dates booked from the middle of May through the middle of June (at least according to his website). Hardly anything that precludes a tour by Don and Walt this year.


One another note, I think Jim may have accidentally removed my post when he did a bit of housecleaning earlier. I wanted to say that I highly doubt that Brain Strainer is the chooch who claims to have destroyed his MTC CD. That doesn't sound like the Strainer's style, IMO. But I am positive that many of these moronic posts are from the same (or a small few) posters. Typically I ignore incendiary posts from anon or unknown posters as trolls shouldn't be fed.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 15:34:09 ET
Posted by: Fun, l

http://www.midomi.com

Try singing a few lines of your favorite SD song and see if it can identify it. I was successful with Black Cow, Reeling in the Years, Do it Again, Dirty Work.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 14:48:45 ET
Posted by: FF, X

It's not unthinkable that SD could tour without Herington. But you're right that it's not a good sign.

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 12:41:38 ET
Posted by: geo,

I see that Jon Herington is starting to book his band during the summer. You all know what that means, right? No Steely Dan, DF or Duke's shows are being planned! I guess SC tanked. That sucks because it's a really wonderful record!

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 10:46:43 ET
Posted by: hoops, on the quick

Clean Willie;

If you are going to post an inquiry like that, you have to leave an email and real identity OR post a link to a reputable news site story or other official legal site. Simply asking something like that no matter how untrue ends up turning it into gossip. Thanks for understanding.

Jim

Date: Mon, February 18, 2013, 01:24:47 ET
Posted by: gold teeth, kaloa hi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4UO210ZD5M

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 22:27:37 ET
Posted by: Another Lurker,

The poster who destroyed the MTC CD sounds like the guy who is 67 and also the Brain Strainer

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 20:06:00 ET
Posted by: I destroyed the MTC CD, don't want it in my house

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 18:58:44 ET
Posted by: TheNightfly93, South Jersey Grid of Desire

I am getting into MTC and SC as of recent. I never heard MTC all the way through... They're both just so tight in writing (harmonies/lyrics) and production is of course, at the top. Just A.O.K.

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 10:12:46 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

Yeah, I think we're getting too tough on each other when we just want to have some fun and express opinions about a group we all care about "Steely Dan".
I had commented that there were 5 great tracks on "SC" that were just as good as anything on previous DF/SD releases. I went on to say that the other 4 tunes just didn't do anything for me and I felt they were much weaker than the general output on previous albums.
Its just an opinion and I didn't mean any slight to DF or any of the players who I have the utmost respect for.
I went to see "The Dukes of September" last year and the songs I did like made the show more than worthwhile. Some of the tunes the girls did or covers of songs from the 50's or 60's weren't for me, but I could still appreciate their artistry.
To accentuate the positive rather than the negative, I think "Almost Gothic" captures the essence of the old Steely Dan while putting a new spin on it. I would love to hear this one Live
but maybe its just better as a slick SD in-studio production.
I've always seen "What a Shame About Me", "Things I Miss the Most" and "H Gang" as a trilogy...When "Two Against Nature" came out, I thought "What a Shame About Me" was the premiere track that was THE single from the album. Had Pop/Rock Music still been considered a relevant part of Pop Culture, this song would have cracked the top 10 for sure. But we know that the Music Industry is now a niche industry.
Another poster had asked if Donald Fagen had another "Aja" in him. "Sunken Condos" has that kind of brilliance. "Slinky Thing" is so sophisticated and rich. "I'm Not the Same Without You" is pure magic. It reminds me of the kind of tune that would start a classic film with the lead character hanging his thumb out trying to hitch a ride after enduring some form of humilation. "Memorabilia" is probably my favorite as it has kind of a whimsical feel. "Weather in My Head" always reminds me of Don Henley & The Eagles. I could see Henley singing that tune as well. "Miss Marlene" has that great traditional "Steely Dan" sound which is why people seem to love it so much.
So to add my two cents, I'm hoping to see a "Steely Dan" concert this summer or even hope to hear about another new "SD" album sometime in the future. Mr. Fagen has so much talent. I can't wait to hear what he's got planned for us.

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 09:35:58 ET
Posted by: Adam , Levine

seriously, this is better than steely dan? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEPTlhBmwRg

you're 67 - you should know better. maybe it's senility?

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 09:32:18 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Sorry for the triple post - hit post by mistake.

I do think there's something special about Steely Dan's 70s output, but I don't think it's simply because all music was better then. I think it has to do with the trajectory of any artist. You improve steadily and eventually you peak.

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 09:24:17 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Also, I wholeheartedly reject the notion that music from the 60s and 70s was uniformly better than music today. Popular music, maybe. The Internet has allowed music to become more fragmented, just as cable TV has allowed television to target smaller niches. You used to only be able to watch 3 channels, now there's three hundred. But no one's saying that hurt television - in fact, most critics will tell you that television is in its "golden age." Sure, there's plenty of terrible reality shows, but you also have Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and Game of Thrones. You just have to know where to look.

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 09:15:08 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

"And some of Maroon 5 and Dave Matthews I like better than much of Steely Dan."

To each their own, but, really? Maroon fucking 5?

Date: Sun, February 17, 2013, 08:12:15 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Diaz: "I find it quite arrogant and pompous to say the old stuff was better."

But if someone's opinion is that the newer stuff is better, that's somehow the "correct opinion" to have, right? (You're proving my point, in case you hadn't noticed...) Newer doesn't necessarily mean better.

Diaz: "That's like saying D&W have not made any progress as artists and are trying to regain their 70's form - far from it."

Some of their new music is quite good, but generally it doesn't have the same effect on me as the older material does. So sue me.

Diaz: "Maybe read what they have to say about the newer releases?"

I've heard Donald talk about what he listens to (i.e. mostly the same stuff he did when he was younger); don't know about Walter though.

Diaz: "Just because it doesn't sound like Katy Lied or Aja?
That was almost 40 years ago, and Elvis is dead now."

So in other words, as time passes, music from generations past will become irreleavnt?

Diaz: "Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but people disqualify their own comments often here by clinging to Your gold tooth and not realizing that they are in over their heads with the new stuff.
Get with it, blowbacks."

Really? So my opinion is now disqualified? Thanks ref. Good thing somebody like you isn't in a position of authority to enforce your world view upon the masses.


geez: "Or maybe you're just to old to seek out all the great stuff that is happening away from the 'politically correct machine.' Your comment is silly, and I'm sure is similar to the kind of comment old people made in the '70s when discussing Sinatra versus Zepplin."

I'm in my early 30's. Yeah, sorry if I don't fit your preferred demographic. And for the record, I do seek out good music, but the good stuff is few and far-between. Again, somehow my fault?

http://www.gizmag.com/pop-music-trends/23535/

According to this research, music has become louder, more homogeneous and, frankly, dumbed down over the past few decades.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 23:01:42 ET
Posted by: well, GEEZ, why don't you clue us in?

I am 67 and I keep up with mostly all of the new artists like Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Mumford and Sons, Black Keys, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars to name a few. They seem pretty good to me. And some of Maroon 5 and Dave Matthews I like better than much of Steely Dan.

But overall, the music now is simpler and dumbed down, like back in the 1940's and 1950's during Sinatra's time. Music actually got more sophisticated poetically and used more instruments and arrangements, to which Steely Dan was a big contributor, along with Moody Blues, and many others from about the mid 1960's to the late 1980's. Around 1990 most music in the public eye generally began to turn shitty by any standard and started following a formula of catchy, repetitive tunes, like jingles, little or no musical talent, mostly percussion and the singers physical looks taking over the prime importance (tours and videos) so as to make the most money. So now, we are now back to the way it was in the 1940's and 1950's, when you had Sinatra, Elvis and others who possessed maybe a good voice, looks, but not much else who were propped up there, like Bieber, Rihanna, and others are today.

The mainstream music continues today to be generally shitty, and will probably continue to be shitty for eternity. It has gotten worse with the sampling that takes an old song note for note and they sing over it. We have come full circle back to the early days of pop, with simple songs, simple lyrics and good looking artists. This is what works and makes money. But there are indie groups out there of pretty high caliber that are real talented artists, but they might be fat or ugly, or don't have a pop-star gimmick and most will never see the light of day. As a result, Becker and Fagen themselves, as young artists, with their looks and sophisticated music as good as they are might have trouble making it under today's environment.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 22:00:45 ET
Posted by: Diaz, right here

I find it quite arrogant and pompous to say the old stuff was better.
That's like saying D&W have not made any progress as artists and are trying to regain their 70's form - far from it.
Maybe read what they have to say about the newer releases?
Just because it doesn't sound like Katy Lied or Aja?
That was almost 40 years ago, and Elvis is dead now.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but people disqualify their own comments often here by clinging to Your gold tooth and not realizing that they are in over their heads with the new stuff.
Get with it, blowbacks.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 17:47:39 ET
Posted by: geez, how bloody boring

quoting Michael:
"...but then music in general was better across the board..."
"There was more ...dedication to mastering a craft than there is now." "People were generally more human rather than byproducts of the politically correct machine of today which tries to manipulate public opinion."

Or maybe you're just to old to seek out all the great stuff that is happening away from the "politically correct machine". Your comment is silly, and I'm sure is similar to the kind of comment old people made in the '70s when discussing Sinatra versus Zepplin.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 17:17:10 ET
Posted by: Not fooling, anybody

King Cole = Steely Don = Gennerelli.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 09:32:24 ET
Posted by: Michael, @macready

"You can take all of that into account and all make good points

But most people will say the old Steely Dan is still the best."

It is, but then music in general was better across the board ...that is, besides disco. But some of the new stuff can hold its own, such as Almost Gothic and Miss Marlene.

Time to get on my soap box.

There was more prosperity, optimism and dedication to mastering a craft than there is now. People were generally more human rather than byproducts of the politically correct machine of today which tries to manipulate public opinion. Also, there's far more distractions. Stuff like mobile phones and social networking eat away precious time (and time is indeed precious).

Listen to the BGM in today's TV shows and movies. Quite frankly, it blows. There aren't any new composers on the level of guys like Mancini, Schifrin, Morricone, etc. etc. Those composers had genuine skill; their music had distinct personality. Did you know that they even used a Bacharach tune on one of those late night TV movie bumper segments on one of the major networks? Yeah, now THAT'S quality right there. Culture was more of a shared experience. Name for me some contemporary film/TV composers with similarly memorable compositions. You can't because everything is either licensed garbage, droning *WRRRRRRROOOOOOMMMM* sounds or whatever thoroughly unmemorable stuff they can find to reinforce a sense of isolation and hopelessness.

What does this have to do with Steely Dan? Environment. Their working environment was completely different in every sense. At every turn Fagen and Becker were surrounded with superb musicianship, artistry and literature. Artists tend to feed off their surrounding enviornment, their culture and experiences. It's very telling that Donald himself confesses to listening to the same stuff he did decades ago. That wouldn't be the case if the music of today were on par with yesteryears'. It isn't just some misty-eyed longing for nostalgia, no, it's simply a matter of wanting real expression, soul, creative ingenuity and passion, qualities seldom found in contemporary music. Of course I don't speak for Mr. Fagen, I'm just making my own observations.

That all being said, here's hoping that a new Steely Dan album is in the works.

Date: Sat, February 16, 2013, 02:34:18 ET
Posted by: spell casters, west Africa

Comments GET YOUR LOVE BACK
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Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 16:44:57 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel , DFW

Thanks, Vic!

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 16:18:54 ET
Posted by: vic,

Swgabriel, Very true. He enjoys playing it just as much as most of his fans hate hearing it. Have a good time!

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 16:05:25 ET
Posted by: Len, US

Re: The facebook picture of Oh Whitney w/ special guest.

I don't see Sam Yahel anywhere.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 14:44:23 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel, DFW

Thank you, Jazzassin!
Vic, in answer to your question: because Mr. Fagen enjoys playing it on stage. Good times.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 13:10:54 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Face piano? Cool.

Nay, the melodica is good. Noble. Have fun, Swgabriel!

Macready, that's your privilige to think whatever you like of it. I just have a slightly different taste. What "most people" would say, I really have no idea, but I wouldn't be surpriseed at all if you are correct.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 12:24:04 ET
Posted by: vic,

Swgabriel, Why would anybody want to see Fagen with "that Melodica"? What a horrible instrument!

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 12:16:31 ET
Posted by: macready, Kenosha WI

You can take all of that into account and all make good points

But most people will say the old Steely Dan is still the best.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 10:51:09 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel, DFW

Here is a link to a picture that Oh Whitney posted on Facebook of them rehearsing with their very special guest for Tomorrow night!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570349752992725&set=a.157537664273938.36798.150088401685531&type=1&ref=nf

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 10:33:20 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG, PA

J.Bridges, good call by you, I should really try to ease up on my
oregano smoking, it could be affecting my judgement. Which wasnt
too good to begin with.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 08:47:55 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, so old I'm using crutches in China

What's old enough for nostalgia? I guess it varies. What year were you born? What year was your "summer of '69"? When did you move out from your moms lap? When did a new form of music start to come out that didn't appeal to you at all? What was the first standard storage format for music when you bought your first album? Is "album" even a relevant unity for you at all? The answers to these rethorical questions and maybe a few more will determine what's old enough for nostalgia.
For me, nostalgia ends in the late '80s. Everything after that is new, and will always be. ;o)

The best thing about OLD testament Dan to me is that it's BOTH of unmatched quality AND a wonderfully nostalgic thing.
The best thing, however, about NEW testament Dan is that it's MERELY of unmatched quality, but has NOTHING of that dank nostalgia sticking to it! A catalog for all seasons, indeed.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 08:13:41 ET
Posted by: The Real Dan,

I agree with these arguments, but Kamakiriad is 20 years old, and Two Against nature is pushing 15 years old. That is old enough for nostalgia right there. There have been some fantastic songs here and there since 2000 such as the ones listed such as on Sunken Condos. But overall, the albums they just don't measure up from the Nightfly backward which tunes are hardly ever passed over when you play the album.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 07:47:08 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Perfection & Grace

fagenism, I agree wholeheartedly. Musically they're more sophisticated than ever.

As for the nostalgia factor ... that's always relevant of course, but having that said I guess there's even more to it than that. In the '50s, '60s & '70s music was still (sometimes) dangerous, it was a part of a social/cultural experiment. The artists, critics and fans shared this new wave and no one really knew what was going to happen next. New music was released and digested in a moderate tempo, and some artists got a superstar status that is rarely seen anymore except for relatively short-lived hype objects and some stayers on the strictly commercial scene. Video killed the radio star.
The amount of input, and not only of the musical kind, wasn't half as massive as is the case these days. The magic that enshrouded the whole music- and entertainment business is gone and the business is struggling with a new technological reality and with telling us exactly what to dig and what to buy. Music is in fact no longer important in people's lives in the way it used to.
I think, even for those of us who are fairly serious about our musical passions, this is true. If you're old enough to have had your taste shaped in that era, the music that you listened to back then will often appear as superior to everything that came later. The nostalgia is probably more on behalf of a general vibe of times gone by than than the music as such, but it influences a lot on how we percept music as well.
So there's a lot of factors other than the mere quality of the music itself. Which in SD's case is as good as ever, if not even better, imho.
Like I've said repeatedly in the past; not even nostalgia is what it used to be. Good music is still as good as it gets, but the signal to noise ratio is radically exacerbated, so it takes a bigger effort to filter the stream. And the noise probably influences on the way we percieve all music, even really brilliant music.

Anyway, the idea that new testament Dan songs are inferior to anything is something I just can't understand. I listen to the whole catalog with unrestrained pleasure. If there's a few songs I might skip once in a while, they are all on the two first albums. Ever since, it's been pure p & g all the way, I think.

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 06:42:14 ET
Posted by: fagenism, Noastlgia Ave.

When fans argue that there is a magic present on early material like CBAT that is somehow missing on new testament cuts (like, say, Almost Gothic, Negative Girl, Everything Must Go, Lunch With Gina, The Great Pagoda Of Funn, The Night Belongs To Mona, Miss Marlene et al) it makes my brain hurt a little.

Sure, taste is subjective. But what could possibly fuel this notion other than nostalgia? The production is better these days; the harmonies and song structures are more lucious; Don sings better, with more self confidence and attitude. The list goes on and on.

Get with the times, kids!

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 05:25:25 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Rock's Back Pages

Nice collection of classic Dan reviews:

http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Artist/steely-dan/

Date: Fri, February 15, 2013, 02:15:53 ET
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Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 19:40:20 ET
Posted by: The Real Dan,

You can shuffle your lists around all you want.

The fact of the matter is that the Real Dan went out of existence after the time of The Nightfly.

Sure there have been some tracks with flashes of brilliance since that time, but none of these 90s and after 2000 albums since have had that Track One through Track 8, 9 or 10 punch that we heard from CBAT up to Nightfly. This earlier excellence may have been due to the production of Katz and others at Dunhill and MCA, who were brilliant with many artists besides the Dan and put out some of the greatest musical works in history.

Whatever that magic was it is definitely gone.

And that is the sad, sad truth. The dirty lowdown.

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 19:18:18 ET
Posted by: J Bridges, I-81

Dylan Fan what you say is beyond vanilla and choc. If you like those 3 songs, you must be smokin wherever you are.

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 18:48:30 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

Cliche alert: SteelyDon, that's why they make vanilla and chocolate.
While I really like all of Sunken Condos, my favorite tracks are
the last three. I know I am in the minority, but so be it.

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 16:55:47 ET
Posted by: DeaconBlues16,

Sunken Condos discussion:

I actually do like tracks 1-4 + 7 better than the remaining tracks, as another poster (or posters) has the same taste as me on this particular album. However, I still really like Good Stuff, The New Breed, Out of the Ghetto, and Planet D'Rhonda. Planet D'Rhonda is probably my least favorite track right now, but it still has many redeeming qualities, like the awesome guitar solo and the choruses. When I first heard the album, The New Breed was my least favorite track, but that song has grown on me tremendously.

Current "Ranking" of Sunken Condos for me:

1. Slinky Thing
2. Miss Marlene
3. I'm Not the Same Without You
4. Weather in My Head
5. Memorabilia
6. Good Stuff
7. The New Breed
8. Out of the Ghetto
9. Planet D'Rhonda

The top 5 are pretty dead set, but the other 4 change often. I really like the lyrics to Good Stuff, so that's why it's currently a notch above the other 3. Of course, even though I'm "ranking" the songs, they are still enjoyable, good songs to me.

In my opinion, Slinky Thing is simply a masterpiece. It's become instantly one of my all-time favorite SD/Fagen tunes, and is at or near the top of my most-frequently played songs on i-tunes. I know that even among SD fans (and even more so with the hardcore SD fans on this forum), there are a lot of varying opinions on which are the best and "worst" SD songs, as there should be... But I have a really difficult time imagining how anyone cannot be enamored with Slinky Thing. I feel that strongly about it. Miss Marlene is another classic that is among the best of the best SD songs, though it doesn't have quite the emotional effect that Slinky Thing has on me. So those two songs, I hold in very high regard, and those two songs alone are enough to elevate Sunken Condos into a really good album. Now, there are two songs on Morph the Cat (Mona and Great Pagoda) that I also feel similarly strongly about (and another one in What I Do that I love as well), but as a whole, I think the next three songs on Sunken Condos (INTSWY,Weather, Memorabilia) are pretty much better than the rest of Morph the Cat and most of the songs, with the exception of Snowbound, on Kamakiriad as well for that matter. The remaining for songs on Sunken Condos for me are on-par, give or take, with the remaining songs on the other albums. As for where it fits in on SD albums as a whole (not including Becker's two), it looks a little like this:

First tier:

- Aja
- The Nightfly
- Countdown to Ecstasy
- The Royal Scam

Second tier:

- Gaucho
- Sunken Condos
- Katy Lied

Third tier:

- Two Against Nature
- Morph the Cat
- Pretzel Logic
- Can't Buy A Thrill
- Everything Must Go
- Kamakiriad

Again, the order of the list fluctuates, which is why I didn't rank these albums, and I also could be favoring an album based on my mood etc, but this is probably a good general guide, and as you can see, Sunken Condos is in some good company. I basically think it's the best SD/Fagen album since The Nightfly and is comparable in terms of quality to Gaucho and Katy Lied.

(Note: I know third tier might not sound flattering, but just for the usual disclaimer, third tier SD is still pretty awesome).

I am interested in hearing how Sunken Condos is like a reverse Katy Lied, so I hope to hear that explanation soon.

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 14:20:31 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel, DFW

*not Fort Woth* Fort Worth! & this coming from a Native Texan! ;)

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 14:05:50 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel, DFW

Thanks, Jazzassin. I am hoping Mr. Fagen will be on that stage with that Melodica! I will certainly report in this weekend. Donald ate dinner with his wife, Libby, at the Flying Saucer in Fort Woth last night. He's making the rounds in Cowtown. :)

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 13:31:53 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Jamband Man Donald

Swgabriel,
Thanks for the link. Shame we didn't get to hear more soloing from our man on the Melancholodica, he actually got interrupted by another vocal verse. When he finally seemed ready to go, it was a bit too late.

If people can't get the previous link to work, here's another one for the same clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCNUFXrvjTc

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 11:58:41 ET
Posted by: Swgabriel, DFW

I am really excited about Saturday night. I have tickets to the Oh Whitney show; the tickets read: Oh Whitney & Very Special Surprise Guest. Seeing Donald Fagen at a small (400 people capacity) for $10 is unbelievable!

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=cCNUFXrvjTc&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DcCNUFXrvjTc

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 10:57:40 ET
Posted by: SteelyDon, Richmond

@ "UH" thanks for your snide remarks. It must be easy for a coward like yourself to hide behind the invisible shroud that the internet provides. Sorry, but I only post when I feel like I have a worthwhile comment. So I guess by your account you really like when the bluebook gets spammed because, hey at least the spam post a lot.

You are a joke.

See you in 6 months.

Date: Thurs, February 14, 2013, 10:44:37 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Thanks Doc Mu. That's some fairly huge news - when was the last time Fagen produced something independently?

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 23:48:30 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The reviewer of the 2000 TAN Grammy must have indeed only listened to CTE and TAN. From that frame of reference, we might give him the benefit of the doubt about the Dan being a "jam band". Not much else in the Old or New Testaments strongly "jams" such as King of the World, "As far as I Know".....

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 23:39:49 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

@Doc Mu

We need to hear about SC being the reverse of Katy Lied.

Is this likened to the Opposite of an Aerial View?

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 22:46:51 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Cazadores Anejo

QUOTE (from The Dean): I'll refrain, for the moment, at laughing at those who call any of the tracks from SC "horrible".

You are being far too defferential my friend. As usual, you are simply too polite when dealing with clods. You refrain. I can't (no self control, we understand).

"Good Stuff", maligned here back in October as "filler" by at least a few obvious dirt-disturbers, is a great track - as good as anything DF has released/recorded in the past two decades. Perfect, atmospheric storytelling/great lyrics/a song that rewards repeat listenings. One really has to wonder, has The Blue been infested with flavour-of-the-minute-disposable-pop Lady GooGoo/Justin Bieber fans of late? Well, I wonder anyways.

Although "Ghetto" might just be my least favourite track, it IS pretty darn good, and was for several weeks the most popular & requested song at my semi-regular Saturday night music-fests here at Casa d'M/O/D/P, especially among the younger (i.e. under 25) crowd. A song with klezmers that the kids go for - who would have thunk?

As far as D'Rhonda goes, every time I hear it now I think of your hilariously "faux-insensitive" dissertation on the song and why you felt it was about a guy who's fallen for a Black girl. That was Good Stuff, Dean. See how I did that? "Good Stuff" the cool song....then "good stuff" as an expression used to describe the past musings of one of the best/most interesting contributors here......

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 21:51:46 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Oh Whitney videos:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+Oh+Whitney.&oq=+Oh+Whitney.&gs_l=youtube.12...10385.10385.0.12271.1.1.0.0.0.0.71.71.1.1.0...0.0...1ac.2.ug6LxlSgoFI

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 21:48:06 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Doc Mu thanks for the link. Might as well link to the music of the Fort Worth band, Oh Whitney, that Don is producing:

http://www.ohwhitney.com/music/

I'll refrain, for the moment, at laughing at those who call any of the tracks from SC "horrible".

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 21:36:56 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Donald does Dallas....errrrrrr Fort Worth


http://www.fwweekly.com/2013/02/13/oh-donald/



Condos is like a reverse Katy Lied in a good way. Will explain later. It's far better than Kama, despite the fab horn charts on the Mantis One

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 19:25:22 ET
Posted by: king cole, pomona cal

I agree with Steely Don and Gennerelli. Planet Ronda, Good Stuff and especially Out the Ghetto are horrible. New breed can take or leave.

i remember them jammin out longer and changign Glamor Profesion at Soboba Casino around 5 or 6 years ago.

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 18:42:12 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

On the Jam Band thread, they always seem to have a couple of songs that they use to stretch out and play a few extra choruses. "Green Earrings" and "Your Gold Teeth" from the last tour come to mind. In fact from 1993 until 2011, I never saw them where they Didn't play GE. Anybody got any other examples of live songs on which they jam? (and by jam I mean the go around on some extra choruses/rides.)I agree that Countdown to Ecstacy is the most jamming album. TVN second. Has anyone ever seeen them do KOTW?(probably 1974 or before. The Rainbow version is smokin'!)Imagine what the current band could do with that...

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 18:28:52 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Taat a mpa

To Steely Don -

I agree with your comments.

The top 4 tracks along with #7 are the best. The other 4 tracks I really have no use for.

I was listening to the album again tonight on the ride home from work. While I don't think "The Nightfly" or "Kamakiriad" had one bad song, the four forgettable ones on "SC" were very forgettable. But saying that I will say Tracks 1-4 and #7 would fit in nicely on any SD album or Donald Fagen solo album.

I would enjoy hearing any of them at a concert this summer...but hope that Don & Walt dust off a couple of oldies that we haven't heard during the 90's or 2000's.

Date: Wed, February 13, 2013, 07:57:53 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Samantha. Correct ! Just to mention the good old BBC have got a poll of their most played 100 albums running at the moment. Can't Buy A Thrill and The Nightfly are in the 100, so give one them a vote. It won't make much difference to the result because something inane will probably win !

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 23:12:11 ET
Posted by: Mr. Lapage, The Great Pagoda

Having been a Dan fan since the beginning and pondering the future, I have been wondering lately: Does Don have one more AJA in him? Don't get me wrong, everything the Dan and Don have done is great, but an epic song like that doesn't come along very often. Ian Anderson is still at it(Check out Change of Horses). Any thoughts?

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 21:45:30 ET
Posted by: UH?,

SteelyDon- Thanks for posting once every six months and letting us all know what you don't like about Donald's record that came out over four months ago. See you again in August.

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 21:33:31 ET
Posted by: SteelyDon, Jacksonville

The more and more I listen to SC, the more I realize that I have a hard time getting past track 4 (Weather in my Head). The first 4 tracks are awesome. Track 5 and 6 not so much. Track 7 thru 9 I like but they don't get me going like the first 4 tracks. Anyone else feel this way?

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 20:07:57 ET
Posted by: Hector E.,

I would say Countdown to Ecstasy is the most jam band album, then West of Hollywood of Two Against Nature. Then I would say I got the News off Aja.

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 16:16:13 ET
Posted by: Elgin, Boston

Happy Fat Tuesday!!!

Have some news to share regarding Catherine Russell Awards and Upcoming Shows:

Catherine Russell – “Strictly Romancin'” (World Village/Harmonia Mundi) has been awarded Vocal Album of The Year (Le Prix du Jazz Vocal 2012) by the French Jazz Academy (l'Academie du Jazz). Awards were given out on January 15, 2013 at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, based on voting by Journalists and Jazz Professionals.

On January 14, Catherine took the stage at Town Hall in New York City to perform at the 11th Annual Nightlife Awards where she received an Award as Outstanding Jazz Performer. Also, recently announced, Catherine Russell and “Strictly Romancin’” will receive a Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording at the the 28th Annual Bistro Awards Gala on Monday March 4 at Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Nightlife Awards and Bistro Awards recognize outstanding achievement in Cabaret, Jazz, and Comedy.

Upcoming Catherine Russell Appearances 2013 from Boston to NYC to San Francisco:

Fri Feb 15 Boston, MA - Scullers Jazz Club 8pm & 10pm shows

Sat Feb 16 Wellfleet, MA - Wellfleet Preservation Hall

Mon Mar 18 Bern, Switzerland - Bern International JazzFest at National Theater

Fri-Sun Mar 22-24 Kecskemét, Hungary - Bohém Jazz and Ragtime Festival

Mon April 15 New York, NY - Symphony Space / Sidney Bechet Society

Fri-Sun April 19-21 Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Jazz Party

Thu-Sun April 25-28 New York, NY - Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Sun June 23 San Francisco, CA - Yoshi's San Francisco

Wed June 26 Los Gatos, CA - Jazz On The Plazz at Los Gatos Town Plaza

Always great to see friends from the land of Blue at Cat's shows! Got "Memorabilia" and "Weather in my Head" ear worms!!!

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 10:14:39 ET
Posted by: RP, NC

About 10 seconds in..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qFSqECVBS0

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 10:08:49 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

The Wayne Shorter Quartet will appearing on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, for those of you who feel like traveling to our fair state.

http://lineup.nojazzfest.com/band/wayne-shorter-quartet-feat-danilo-perez-john-patitucci-and-brian-blade

Stanley Clarke and George Duke will appear at the Jazz Fest on the previous day, May 4.

http://lineup.nojazzfest.com/band/clarke-duke-project

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 10:03:40 ET
Posted by: west of hollywood , jams out

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 09:07:39 ET
Posted by: Samantha Wimsatt, London

"Then they say, how come this album sounds like the seventies ones?"

Because, mutatis mutandis, we're still the same people--same writers, same singer, etc.

Date: Tues, February 12, 2013, 00:42:53 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

LOL Yeah, 70s jam bands don't exactly sit out most of the decade after their intoxicated bus driver takes over the PA system at a concert.


Dean - I have nothing but the assumption that W is sitting this one out as he watches Civilization circle the drain on his satellite modem...

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 23:52:19 ET
Posted by: irritable, Oz

Steely Dan is not to be found in the list of Jam Bands set out in Wikipedia - which is based on a remarkably extended definition of what could constitute a Jam Band. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jam_band

In view of SDs meticulously refined song arrangements and the tight control over improvisation opportunities in concert, it's puzzling that the author of the article used that expression.

And as for the statement "... they sounded like they had picked up right where they left off in terms of their style, and the 20-year hiatus didn't seem to factor into how the album sounded at all ..." - I think that's wrong on a few counts.

2vN had a radically different drum sound to Aja and Gaucho: two decades of progressive Funk had a significant effect on the rhythm arrangements, lots more Dom7 vamping in song verses, almost bleeding edge harmonic ideas in places (esp. Negative Girl and Almost Gothic), and generally fewer obvious melody hooks or lush textures - all these made for a significant change from the sound of prior albums. There were plenty of obvious continuities - sardonic lyrics, superb horns and background vocal arrangements, and state of the art production - but certainly not "right where they left off".

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 21:10:29 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Though I will NOT concede that Steely Dan, DF or WB overall overall bodies of work were ever of the "jam" band type. At least not in the sense of Phish or The Dead. Or maybe Yes or Tull.

But the Dan had one pretty "jammin" album, and mebbe two or three others that contained jammin type cuts.

There is no specific answer (s), but look at it with an open mind, and suggest which SD albums or cuts MIGHT lead to such a conclusion by the author of that Grammy article if his listening experience was restricted to only those suggested.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 20:31:08 ET
Posted by: irritable, Australia

Gotye is the stage name of Wally de Backer, who was born in Belgium, raised in Oz.

His birth name is Woultros, which morphed to "Wally" when he moved to Oz.

In French, Woultros translates as Gaultier.

Phonetically, Gaultier = "Gotye".

As for his song, it's harmonically very simple but there are a lot of very clever things happening, esp. with unconventional vocal line, and the terrific lyrical twist at the end.

Unlike most of the songs up for awards.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 19:22:39 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Quick notes:

Doc, do you have any real info about Walter, or is this just a hunch? I'm thinking many counted him out in the 80's and early 90's, too. I will actually be shocked if SD doesn't tour and/or make another album. I understand that is a distinct possibility, but it isn't what I expect.

The 2000 Grammy article was interesting, but like Doc Mu I think the album speaks for itself w/o needing explanations on why it won Album of the Year. Better to spend your time explaining how Royal Scam, Aja, etc. DIDN'T win that award. Also does anyone really consider Steely Dan a "jam band"?

And while it may be technically true that "the group had never won a single Grammy before [2vN]" both Aja and Gaucho won Engineering Grammys.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 15:13:28 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Luke: Interesting.

...or it could have been that the producers and engineers overwhelmingly voted for TvN because it sounded better than anything else out there...

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 14:37:43 ET
Posted by: Luke D.A., via hoops

A Great Read:

Most articles scrutinize the Grammy win for TAN, saying it was simply the Recording Academy's sense of nostalgia for a band long overdue. Here's a piece that attempts to explain why they won that year instead of the typical bs:

http://www.goldderby.com/news/4020/grammys-2000-album-of-the-year-steely-dan-eminem-upset-entertainment-music-news-23890408.html

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 14:00:37 ET
Posted by: Toni,

why is everybody so certain that Walter is done? He should get something like Twitter and write some of that interesting stuff that used to be on Sd website. I personally would allways prefer a Sd over a fagen album and i also like CM bettr than SC so Walter get going and give us another solo album or even better another Sd album. I belive in you.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 12:57:12 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

uhhhhh...Wally De Backer is Gotye's real name.

Our Walter is in Hawaii smokin' ganja. He's done. It's been a great ride. We *might* get another Dan tour if the piggy banks are low. Otherwise, some Dukes tours and maybe a Fagen Indy label album...


SC is a Fab album indeed and represents Donald's entire spectrum of a career well. It *should* be nominated for a Grammy next year, but I'm not holding my breath.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 11:34:11 ET
Posted by: Hunt, Boston

Re: "From Daryl's house" RIP bassist T-Bone Wolk. Shawn Pelton on drums is the man! That's Zev Katz on bass. Zev played on a bunch of DF demos as well as some recorded versions of some Fagen singles.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 09:26:03 ET
Posted by: ,

I'm guessing "satire" is just a way to shield themselves legally. It looks like they're just looking for hits. Basically spammers.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 07:48:09 ET
Posted by: Phil, chez moi

mediamass is just an automated hoax generator, if you type any other name, I tried Al Jarreau to see, you'll get exactly the same "articles".
http://en.mediamass.net/people/al-jarreau
That's all folks

BTW, I don't think anyone already talked about the " From Daryl's house"
videos here, try this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igkyajvrm-8
Hours of live and great music

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 06:38:47 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, stupid too

Sorrry, forget that previous comment.
After a bit of further reading I realize it was never meant as satire on anything but the internet mechanisms and gossip mags, and as such I guess it's quite amusing.

Date: Mon, February 11, 2013, 04:37:11 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, satire maybe, but with not much truth at the bottom like really good satire should have ...

... but anyway, here's their WB special:

http://en.mediamass.net/people/walter-becker

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 23:33:07 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

That site is satire.
http://en.mediamass.net/blog/mediamass-project

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 22:31:59 ET
Posted by: ,

It looks like some sort of sophisticated search engine gaming. If you look at the other links on the page, there's an article on walter's dog, his fiancée, and being voted sexiest man of the year.

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 21:32:13 ET
Posted by: ,

Tried a couple of French-to-English sites:

Babylon.com translation from French:
Walter Becker in studio? So for the moment no information still filtered, the specialized sites them, speak only about that (especially since the end of January 2013, note): Walter Becker would prepare his great return and would work currently even with a new album studio.\n\nCorrective 2/11/2013: It would seem that this rumour is unfounded.

translate.google.com: ("spends her days"?)
Walter Becker in the studio? If for the moment no information has yet filtered sites specializing them only talk about it (especially since the end of January 2013, ed): Walter Becker prepare a comeback and will work at this very moment a new studio album.

11/02/2013 Patch: It seems that this rumor is unfounded. (more info)

The famous musician, now 62 years old, spend her days in the studio to record what many foresee as the album's homecoming.

Earlier this week a source considered reliable reportedly told the journalist of great American music monthly, he prepares something very great. "I can not say more, but yes, there will be surprises." A statement that joins a long list of revelations ...

Walter Becker back on stage

Always running noise in radius, it evokes more a big tour that follows the release of the album: Walter Becker would thus his comeback! The announcement, however, to take the conditional, has generated unprecedented excitement among fans of the musician. And the rumor of a fresh start on social networks.

If confirmed, the music world holds its event in 2013!

Another site that only lets you translate the first 1,000 words:
Walter Becker in studio? If for the time being no information has still leaked out, the specialized sites them, speak only of this (especially since the end of January, 2013, editor's notes): Walter Becker would prepare his big return and work at the moment even studio on a new album.

Corrective in 11/02/2013: It would seem that this rumour is infondée. (in knowledge more)

The famous musician, today 62-year-old, would cross his days in studio to record what many people sense as the album of return to sources.

At the beginning of week a considered source as dependable would have entrusted to the journalist of a big American musical monthly magazine, that it gets ready to something very very big. « I cannot say about it more, but yes, there will be surprises ». A statement which joins a long list of revelations …

Walter Becker back on stage

Always in the ray noise which runs, they recall more and more a big tour which would follow the exit of the album: Walter Becker would make.......

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 20:17:20 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

After further review, isn't Wally De Backer actally Gotye's real name?

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 20:15:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Have yet to check out all the interesting (one hopes) links that have been posted the past week. Been a bit under the weather and quite busy.

But a couple responses to very recent posts:

Highway Ticket, are you suggesting Wally De Backer (Gotye's producer) might be Walter Becker? Seriously?

And CJB, a new Walter Becker album> That would be great. But right on that page you posted is a link to a correction. However, the translation of the correction is pretty odd. There doesn't seem to be any mention of Becker on the correction page (which is dated prior to the Becker article). Can anyone read this in French and tell us what it all means? Thanks.

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 19:44:27 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Hey kids, heads up, breaking news from our friends across the pond:

http://fr.mediamass.net/people/walter-becker/nouvel-album.html

4 years since "Circus Money," sounds about right!

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 19:43:50 ET
Posted by: CJB, YVR

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 18:54:45 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Thanks to Jazzassasin, Doc and Dean. Fixed something a little different just now--hope it helps for a while. I don't think anyone's (non-spam) post got deleted when I took out the spam; but if it did, it was certainly unintentional--please email me privately and I will get it back.

Thanks for the Wayne Shorter heads up. Second time I've heard about his new album in the past two days. I'll have to make sure I get it. I can't imagine downloading Wayne Shorter's new album. Gotta have a real CD. Which reminds me: I know that Universal and Warners probably would get more of a cut than with any T-shirt, but I sure would rather buy LPs than T-shirts at the souvenir stand than a T-shirt.

Sorry--I don't even think of "Dallas" as an Steely Dan track, although it was. Just awful in my book. "Sail the Waterway" gives me some enjoyment. I also like the 1968-71 demos, although I can understand D + W lack of excitement for them on several fronts. So I guess there is ONE Steely Dan song I don't especially care for -- "Dallas."

Still playing "Sunken Condos" to death -- and there's one aspect that perceive as having a lot of potential. I'll write about it when I am better to articulate my speculation.

Fly low and be cool.

Jim

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 18:44:33 ET
Posted by: highway ticket , altamira

Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer


guess it could be

Date: Sun, February 10, 2013, 00:00:53 ET
Posted by: RP, NC

Jason Sudekis on SNL...shout out to Dan fans as the best ever.. 02/09/2013

Date: Sat, February 09, 2013, 06:28:36 ET
Posted by: cold porter, in the archives

wow Dallas white label promo...the only known stereo version ever issued

.....http://www.ebay.com/itm/STEELY-DAN-Dallas-mono-Dallas-stereo-promo-45rpm-/111005526935?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item19d871eb97


sure wish MCA was working on a real box set....seems like so many good stuff is just slipping away

Date: Sat, February 09, 2013, 00:30:47 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Spent much of today snowed in and listening to the new Wayne Shorter Quartet album WITHOUT A NET on repeat. Anyone else check this out? I love this group and this is one of their most thrilling recordings to date.

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 15:38:41 ET
Posted by: vic,

Nate: If some of those people in that facebook group don't know, nobody here will either. Believe me.

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 14:06:21 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Ingram was pretty obscure in North America, and they didn't get their props. But the record store imports do explain how you knew about it. Shame about losing the record stores on many levels. But NOW the Web can tell you if there are bands in Nigeria that are putting out excellent Acid Rock. No more need to import! There is a band in Japan that plays nearly flawless covers of Steely Dan, with a not so bad impersonation of DF on vocals. Go figure.


I almost forgot about the greatest band out of Norway A-HA!

Next, you will tell me that THEY were obscure over there? :o)

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 12:51:35 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Blue Norwaii

Brains,
Ingram was not big by any measure over here either, but were amongst a bunch of obscure '70s US funk- and disco artists that was represented on various DJ collections, probably made for the european market. I grew up with a 17 year older brother who used to run the local record shop at the corner back then, and I was probably exposed to more diverse music at early age than most. He even imported a lot of music directly from US & UK. All those shops are gone now, unfortunately.

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 12:49:38 ET
Posted by: Paul,

Steely Dan alum, Cynthia Calhoun (2000 & 2003) will be performing with Roxboro Entertainment recording artist Sunnie Paxson this Sunday (Feb 10th) at Il Moro on Olympic Blvd in Los Angeles CA. They'll be joined by Dan Lutz (paul brown, peter white, sheila e, andy summers, larry carlton,...) on bass and Jimmy Paxson (stanley clarke, stevie nicks, rod stewart, steve vai,...)on drums.

Feel free to check out Cynthia's FB page and/or website. www.cynthiacalhoun.com

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 12:30:23 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

@Jazzassin

Whoa! You mean to tell me that Ingram's music infiltrated into Norway back then? They weren't even that big in North America.

All we could get over here from Europe, aside from the UK was Dieter Meier, Kraftwerk, Kano, Feuer, Daft Punk etc.

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 11:34:29 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, The Blue Lounge > Balkan > Home

A lot of different music to our ears on here these days.
Beauty Room is hard not to like, and has tons of undisputable qualities that should appeal to many a Danfan I think. After a couple of listens to The Beauty Room & TBR II, I have yet to completely fall in love with them ... A bit too nice, almost? Not all songs on their albums are really strong enough imo, and they obviously like synthetic strings and fluffy synth pads better than I do ... but I guess I will try them on a few times again in the near future to see if it grows.
Chin Chin was fun and seems like a brilliant choice for e.g. a Chillout Lounge playlist. I like all the good clichés and stylistic nods to various (dance) music of the past. Playful and groovy and clever as hell with not many limits genre wise. Listening as I write, I like it better and better, actually. Into the sleazy vocoder disco hybrid groove of Dontchusee right now.
Not half as sleazy as Ingram of course, but then again not much is.
I have a confession to make. Back in the mid '70s when I was a teenager and just recently got into the Dan, I swear I would've dissed Ingram ruthlessly. Maybe I even did, actually. Now, 35 years later, and with all the retro romanticism going on for two decades, I find it soothing and of a certain pleasure to listen to the original sleazy disco of the '70s once in a while. So, I'm probably getting old and soft, yet grumpy of course, after all. Thank God. For a while I thought I was never going to grow up. ;o)

And now for something completely different.
Since 1991 Norwegian band Farmers Market has been making, playing and recording some of the most challenging and strange music I know. The members are all well educated jazz musicians, but the music is a hybrid of Bulgarian traditional folk music and western jazz, pop and rock of various kinds. Mostly instrumental, but with some hilarious vocal outbreaks inbetween. Bulgarian folk music is characterized by what to an untrained, western ear sounds like extremely complicated time signatures, micro tonality and virtuous playing. Which it is, and so even the obviously talented and skillful bandmembers of Farmers Market admittedly had a hard time getting into it for a long time before it started to feel natural.
Their concerts are marked by breathtaking soloing and brilliant interplay, sick musical humor and general partytime.

I don't expect people to fall for this immediately, and for a majority I'd guess possibly never. It's just to far from everything most people have ever heard, and it usually takes some time to learn to eventually appreciate it. It is really, like their leader Stian calls it, "endangered time signatures"! 11/16 and worse.
Musically also related to Frank Z and his predecessor Spike Jones.

Here's an example where they play a medley with guest star Michael Brecker at Northsea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands/-world in 2004. Brecker don't seem to have much problem at all playing along with this weird music, which only shows what a versatile and great player he was. Miss him.
But folk, give this at least one chance, and if you have problems taking it in, try to forwind to 05:30 and enjoy the guitar and vocal part from Nils Olav, the brilliant streching out from Michael and Trifon (saxes), the growling Hammond B3 sound from Stians MIDI accordion and above all the insane groove by Jarle (drums) and Finn (bass)! If this doesn't make you jump for the dance floor - and promptly break both your legs - nothing will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uJbzh7QS8g

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 09:19:16 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

@Philippe of Pau

As for Chin Chin, I like it. But when you need a new idea, read an old book....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnT8jWsLmWk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSpcGpUGp-w

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 08:14:26 ET
Posted by: Phil again, pareil

Chin Chin :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRUHuxyfze0
and that one also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHj0k0Krvw0

Date: Fri, February 08, 2013, 04:08:46 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hi Nicolas,
if I remember well, I'm the one who mentionned The Beauty Room years ago when they released their first cd. We had a great magazine in France called "Muziq" made by a bunch of passionate guys, the chief editor being Frédéric Goaty, now chief editor of Jazzmagazine. The guy is a Steely Dan freak, he has interviewed both Donald and Walter.He's the one who turned me on Snarky Puppy before I mentionned them on the Blue. I remember a couple of years ago he told me the next big thing would be "Chin Chin", listen to their song Appetite . The guys didn't make it sadly, I'll see what they are doing now when I find the time.
Have a nice day
Philippe

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 23:11:06 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The Dean posted a song from the Swedish artist "Miss Li" called "Bourgeois Shangri-la",

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LshLnHpyxII

Which generated this Strainer:


"The novelty song in the link posted by The Dean is highly derivative of another song. Name the title and artist."

The best answer is this song, from Gary Lewis about 1965 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkeSdLaGG1o

The Dean answered with Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away", maybe late 1980's


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvuL5jyCHOw&list=AL94UKMTqg-9AmFOGfOFfMACSyakjIF7TS


Something interesting happened here, which might have several explanations of how BOTH answers are correct.

1. Miss Li did a "mash up" of these two tunes, and upped the tempo on the Kravitz tune, which appears to be the base, and punctuated the verses with the Gary Lewis riff.

2. Kravitz in the late 1980's might have SLOWED the tempo of the Gary Lewis tune to derive the basis for "Fly Away".

3. Miss Li is VERY crafty, has an astute knowledge of such things as "Brill Building pop, and as such, uses many pop elements in her music. She might have even gone as far to "expose" Kravitz's possible derivation from Gary Lewis' tune twenty years hence.

4. None of the above.

What is key here, and for the last two Strainers is that musical influences form a complex web that today is very global in reach and can span decades of time when compared to the 1960's when most rock music interchange was between the US and UK. Nowadays a girl from a remote outpost in Sweden can craft Brill building pop. And one cannot rule out DF not being influenced by a young rapper from Long Island NY, Erik Francis Shrody. Also known as Everlast..........

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 23:06:44 ET
Posted by: TheNightfly93, South Jersey Grid of Desire

Hello all,

My name is Nate MacAdams. For those of you who don't know me via facebook, I am the biggest 19 year-old SD/FAGEN/WB fan in this hemisphere. I was curious as to what info or rumors are floating around currently about a SD/DF tour in 2013. The last thing I heard was from a DF interview in late November... Please fill me in on any "insider" information. Anything helps. I'm just so excited to see my favorite artist this year. I am the craziest younger generation fan, and I'm optimistic about what the future holds.

Your loyal Danfiend,

Nathan J. MacAdams, the 21st century nightfly.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 22:14:54 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The most recent Strainer was:

"Tonite's Strainer is an audio type, which does not appear very often, and deals with a tune that exists within the solo studio Fagen discography. You may or may not have to give this tune a listen in order to determine the tune within solo studio Fagen "What It's Like".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwoNQvSOxM8

Difficulty level is prolly a 5.5 out of 10."

THUS FAR:

The mere mention of the tune "What It's Like" has produced a highly unintended chain of events, to say the least, ranging from personal insults to utter vile contempt for the tune itself. There is always a risk going outside of the Realm of the Dan, as I am not so wild about that tune myself. The true intent was to compare that tune to a tune contained within the four Fagen solo albums. So we need to reformulate and add a few hints.

HINTS: Focus in on the "What It's Like" VERSES. They are in a lower key than the Fagen tune, but are sung with about the same syncopation and tempo. The" wah-wah" background guitar solos on What It's Like are also similar to, but are more prominent on the Fagen tune."

EPILOGUE:

Irrespective of one's being enamored or disdainful for the Everlast tune "What It's like" it sold millions worldwide, and most anyone exposed to FM radio would be aware of it.

As stated, two things are very unique about it is the rhythmic way the verses are sung, along with the use of wah-wah guitar solos. Combine these elements with the song's tempo, with a higher change in pitch on vocals for DF's voice and you have a fairly good match with Slinky Thing which was the tune in question. What It's Like was, in fact, the tune that came to mind when I first heard Slinky.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 21:43:55 ET
Posted by: Hector E.,

Well I can tell you right now, I am not going if it is Fagen and the Dukes! No way Jose'!! Fagen is plotting to do a Dukes summer tour to make money and then off to Europe with SD in the autumn. There is not enough time in the year to do the entire US. If they do, it might be only Beacon shows and larger east coast cities to make money. Europe tour is easier and less work because those people will go for the Greatest Hits and not demand rarities or album sides like in the US.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 21:42:51 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Nicholas, I cannot take credit for introducing The Beauty Room to The Blue. I found out about them from Lutz a week or two ago. And I believe someone else mentioned them here quite a while back.

But you are right, I have found a lot of good NEW music from posters here on The Blue. The criticism we often hear, that us old folks can't open themselves up to new music, is simply false. I can only speak for myself (but I imagine it is true for many others here) new, old, whatever, I am open to good music. Just because something is new, trendy or popular is irrelevant--it means NOTHING to me. Now I'm not suggesting music I like is good, and music I don't like is bad (well actually I do suggest that all the time, to my friends)--but that is too simplistic. There is plenty of great music that doesn't speak to me. But for the most part, the music I like is of very high quality--or at least I like to think so.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 21:34:14 ET
Posted by: Ben, Indy

My hairdresser's saying SD will tour mid-July through October.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 20:52:05 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

My The Beauty Room II CD arrived today. A hearty thanks to whoever it was that mentioned it here - was it The Dean? It's really nice.

Yeah, it's all about SD, but without the Blue, just in the last few months, I never would have heard, or heard of, Snarky Puppy, The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco, and The Beauty Room. Cool.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 20:30:06 ET
Posted by: hoops, thanks dean, doc

The tour dates started appearing around the first and second weeks of March last year. Thats's when the venues with subscriber series tickets first started appearing (i.e. Chastain, Tanglewood, Ravinia). Those venues announce the dates in the context of "Subscribers" buying a package of three to five concerts as a "series."

Keep in mind that in most cases these days, the artists (in our case, that means Steely Dan or Dukes or...?) are prohibited from announcing the shows until the venue or some related sponsor has a chance to do so first.

And of course, the wild card is this: although Donald has said in interviews last fall that he was considering touring as part of Steely Dan or as the Dukes (People, Billboard, I think) he didn't say whether they'd tour in North America or the USA. I think it was in 2007 where they had an abbreviated US tour before heading to Europe, etc.

Best,

Jim

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 18:18:31 ET
Posted by: Lutz , SF

Jim Taylor,
in 2009 it was not before April I believe.
Hopefully soon...

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 17:51:31 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello, Baton Rouge

Can anyone tell me historically what time of year SD has announced a summer/Fall tour? I am beginning to feel like they may have decided to record, instead, which is fine, but I need to start making some decisions. <Snicker> like they should schedule their plans around my yearly financial decisions. Any info would be a great help.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 12:19:00 ET
Posted by: Jazzasin, raving

Dear Kirk,

But of course! Personal musical taste can't really be discussed, it just IS, and it changes over time. There's almost always exceptions from the general rule as well, like what's often called "guilty pleasures".
When I 'm dissing songs or artists I don't like, I tend to be very loud and to exaggerate things a whole lot, just like when I'm enthusiastic about something. ;o)
I hope you can believe me when I say there's no need to feel insulted.
I really don't judge people by musical taste, and people's taste is often varied and partly overlapping my own. Which is also varied and changing over time. No one should have to defend their taste, and no one should let others tell them what to like or not. I don't anyway, and neither should you.
I have some good friends with whom I share very little musical taste, and I have told them repeatedly that their taste mostly sucks, but they don't seem to listen. Just like they never let me forget how much some of my favorites sucks, Steely Dan included! But we're good friends nevertheless, and those things have its time and its place. Life's so much more.
I used the opportunity to stretch out beyond all reason towards Everlast and his song, I really don't dig it, but that's my problem, not yours. Some of his things has sold shitloads, so it's me that's out of sync I suppose. If you like it, you are not alone! And feel free to not like everything I like, and tell me it sucks if you think it does.
I usually don't make many assumptions about people I only know from internet discussions based on their musical turn-ons & -offs, even if they surprise me by liking things I can't stand or understand, so there's no degrading or "not measuring up" going on, really. It's not my mandate in this world to judge other people whatsoever.
Don't take this too serious, please. It was all meant a little humorous and also, it was adressed much to Brain Strainer, since he and I have had a little friendly disagreement in the past over some critical details in the construction of SD related quizes and the general relevance of said. And actually, I never thought Brains was a big fan of Everlast either, but used the song exclusively for quiz purposes. He confirms this in his post. So, I was not after anyones taste. But please, never mind.
The only one left who, with some reason, should eventually feel insulted is Mr.Everlast himself, but he's sold enough records to be able to give a shit about what I think, to say the least.

I must admit though, that I was surprised to find several fans of him here at the Blue. Then again, that's my prejudices.

But as for the very concept of liking or disliking this or that: You will sometimes find yourself completely unable to understand other peoples taste. You can and must respect it, but cannot understand. One thing may be close to a fact to me, as is the exact opposite to another person. A fundamental difference in perception of the same piece of music, plus having music as a main and important part of your life, can cause temperamental (or plain mental) outbreaks from me and many others, as can the love for certain other phenomenons at the other end of the scale.
Take my raving for what it is; a good indicator of what I like and what I don't like. As if anyone cared.

Re: Miss Li
Brains, I'm afraid I can't be of much help. She has a certain standing on the alternative scene in Scandinavia, but is not all that big amongst the masses, really. And if she had been, the statiscs says I would probably have known even less about her. Not my cup of tea, but the videos are amusing.

Date: Thurs, February 07, 2013, 01:51:22 ET
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Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 23:53:33 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba,

Cobalt,

I'd forgotten about that video! Wow, yeah... Dias's outfit is very slimming.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 23:34:19 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Like someone said a few posts back, if we are all into the Dan, we might have similar tastes for other artists, Mad props go out to The Dean for turning us onto "Miss Li". Rock on OUT!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecVzhSmwPz4

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 23:31:05 ET
Posted by: Cobalt Cigarette, New York

Now there's a good nightcap.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 23:28:35 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Can't say I am "big into" Miss Li, Brain. Bumped into a few of her tunes on youtube a while back and though she was "interesting" in a way. I like her voice--but maybe because of that distinctive voice a lot of her stuff tends to sound the same. Trite tunes, really--but very good instrumentation and arrangements. She is fresh and genuine, which is a big step above most of the pop stuff we get here in the states. And while i despise music videos for the most part, hers are indeed fun. And, based on some what I have heard on youtube, she sounds good live, too.

So not really my cup-o-tea, but in limited doses, I can enjoy her a bit. I'm not racing out to buy her albums, though. I have introduced her to friends I knew would love her, and they are buying her music.

A Swedish Cyndi Lauper, maybe?


Here's a nightcap of something completely different, but far more Dangential. At least I think it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_tboWSbgGw

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 22:29:26 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

@The Dean

Where did you find out about this "Miss Li"? Are you big into her? Don't see how they have been keeping her covered up for this long. Prolly because she is Swedish and somewhat isolated. Jazzassin might know more about her. She has got to be big in Scandinavia.

I have been Lookin' (girl is smokin'!), Listenin' and LIKIN'....maybe even better than Steely Dan ITSELF!

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 22:26:45 ET
Posted by: Cobalt Cigarette, New York

I hear ya, Kuleebaba. My personal favorite is the getup Dias is wearing in the video of them doing "My Old School" on what I think is American Bandstand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgWWliZHjtI

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 21:28:52 ET
Posted by: kuleebaba, West of Hollywood... and then north and east

Cobalt,

I'd agree with you that Becker was a good-looking guy.

Still, there were some rough-looking members when the original live touring was happening. I won't name any names, but take a look at the "Reeling in the Years" video and see if you agree:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKOq7-mNeaE

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 19:09:10 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. Still Drinkin'

Since this isn't an "official" Strainer, I guess i can play along. I'm thinking "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravtiz.

ef="mailto:skljk346">Brain Strainer,

The novelty song in the link posted by The Dean is highly derivative of another song. Name the title and artist.

Not sure if even The Dean his-self can get this one.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 18:42:21 ET
Posted by: Cobalt Cigarette, New York

One of the younger folks here. Just got into Steely Dan. I went nosing around through the crate of records my uncle had as a teenager and when I pulled out the Greatest Hits compilation from '78, you would've thought I'd found gold.

Also, I don't get them being called the ugliest band ever. Becker was a babe back in the 70s.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 18:17:59 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

While it is true this place is lousy with testosterone, there are several very fine female posters on The Blue. I guess it isn't surprising one might forget, as they tend to only post, on topic, when they have something to say. They are far less likely to get into pissing contests or post random bullshit.

Welcome to the wonderful world of posting Shangi-La. Here is some random bullshit in your honor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LshLnHpyxII

Not Dangential in any way. Not to my usual musical taste. But there is something very likable about this song--and appropriate at the moment, perhaps.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 17:37:53 ET
Posted by: Shangri-La, Direct from Lhasa

Hey, Phil -

I know of at least one female personage who is both an alarmingly infrequent poster and a prolific, diurnal lurker on the Blue. She is me. Addressing the fine folks 'round these parts as "guys and girls" is entirely appropriate.

Shalom a usted.

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 13:23:24 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hello guys,
I was going to write "guys and girls" but those days we have a male board right ?
Anyway, I've had the Beauty room 2nd opus for a few months now and it's indeed a very fine album, it took them years to record it but it was worth the wait, a bit more guitars than on the first one, Deodato has been replaced by Paul Buckmaster, get the two if you don't have them already.
It's good to see that there is always someone on duty in the "Steely Dan warning brigade" when something sweet and Dan related is released somewhere in the world, this for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7J4x1Qv1A
There is a line in the last Mojo magazine saying that song has some Dan flavor, I suppose I see what they mean.
Talking about Snarky Puppy, there should be some fresh news from France soon as Frédéric Goaty, the chief editor of Jazzmagazine is a big fan and the guys are coming back soon to play in Paris. New cd, interview, I'll let you know about that.
Bonne soirée à tout le monde
Philippe

Date: Wed, February 06, 2013, 03:16:48 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Watched the great Album Show on BBC TV last night and turned off in disgust at the end ! Always believed Danny Baker's favourite band were Steely Dan from everything he has said over the years. A few years ago he proclaimed Countdown To Ecstasy as the greatest rock album of all time. Wel, by last night he had changed his mind and suddenly it was Todd Rundgren's 'A Wizard...' a fine album but not even Todd's best. He also proceeded to rave about Joni Mitchell, Led Zep and one or two others, but absolutely no mention of the great ones !Danny, you are a charlatan and should be ashamed of yourself. That's the last time I sing your praises !!

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 19:53:01 ET
Posted by: Kirk , NorCal

Dear Jazzassin,
Normally I stay out of these playground pissing contests, but this time I just can't stay quiet. Each person's taste for music is different, yours, mine, mr. anonymous', etc., etc. I respect that you personally don't like Everlast or the song "What It's Like"--after all, musical preferences are based on subjective factors, and, hence, each individual's will be unique. I do like Everlast, and "What's It's Like" is one of my favorites of his songs . . . and I'm rushing toward 70 with 50 a distant speck in the rearview mirror.

What bothers me is the implication that those of us who do not share your musical taste somehow fail to measure up to your standards. Since it's impossible for any of us to completely share the same taste in music, that suggests that none of us measure up.

It must be assumed that those of us who frequent this site are likely to be Steely Dan, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker fans. So apparently we do share some similarities in musical taste. The fact that our tastes aren't identical is what makes us interesting and different. But isn't it possible to disagree with someone's musical likes and dislikes without all the pontification?

OK, I'm leaving the playground. Piss away.

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 17:55:38 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The most recent Strainer was:

"Tonite's Strainer is an audio type, which does not appear very often, and deals with a tune that exists within the solo studio Fagen discography. You may or may not have to give this tune a listen in order to determine the tune within solo studio Fagen "What It's Like".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwoNQvSOxM8

Difficulty level is prolly a 5.5 out of 10."

THUS FAR:

The mere mention of the tune "What It's Like" has produced a highly unintended chain of events, to say the least, ranging from personal insults to utter vile contempt for the tune itself. There is always a risk going outside of the Realm of the Dan, as I am not so wild about that tune myself. The true intent was to compare that tune to a tune contained within the four Fagen solo albums. So we need to reformulate and add a few hints.

HINTS: Focus in on the "What It's Like" VERSES. They are in a lower key than the Fagen tune, but are sung with about the same syncopation and tempo. The" wah-wah" background guitar solos on What It's Like are also similar to, but are more prominent on the Fagen tune.

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 17:40:06 ET
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Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 17:30:24 ET
Posted by: ,

Fair enough. I was just surprised everyone on this board has such a negative reaction to the song that seems to go beyond mere dislike, and was trying to figure out why. I guess my taste just sucks. :D

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 14:46:30 ET
Posted by: Weendamismams, Spain

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Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 14:39:20 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Young Stuff

Hey, anonymous poster that thinks this is about age and not music:

It's not the case, and that argument is so worn, you know. Standard charge when someone over 30 don't like crappy music that also happens to be new.
If it's of any comfort, I can assure you they made just as much crappy music when I was a kid and long before that, as well.

I'm more or less middle aged (rushing towards fifty), and I love to get enthusiastic about new music. My latest "young love" is three albums by Texas-based Snarky Puppy. They're absolutely brilliant, and make some of the best music I've heard, ever.
I heard about them from fellow Danfans.
But you know, they're excellent musicians, they have energy, the songs are playful, complex and genre breaking. They lean heavily on the best jazzrock/fusion/progrock traditions and at the same time they include touches of elements, especially in the percussive dept, like some almost-hiphop beats/ breakbeats that gives the project away as something that is a child of it's own time. Add to that the use of e.g. slide guitar, which is not much heard in any of the genres mentioned, and you have a modern superband. Their Hammond B3 virtuoso is a chapter of his own, and the bassist/composer/bandleader is really a force of nature.

This Everlast guy uses sampled or very processed acoustic guitar, which I don't like, and a just as repetetive and very unoriginal drum beat that grinds my brain to slush, he "sings" in a monotonuos way that makes me think he's going to fall asleep anytime, the whole thing sounds machine-like and sequenced, and in fact dead as a stone to my ears. Take some vitamins, man!
It's theoretically possible that the lyrics expresses a depression to go along fine with the depressive music. I don't know. He lost me before I could get enough of it to make up my mind about that part. If so, I'd recommend him to find a musical form to carry the message that isn't 100% generic hip-POP. A little personal touch never hurts when people try to express genuine emotions. On top of that, he actually sounds fairly pretentious and like he tries just a little too hard to appear cool, which is not cool.

The absolute opposite of the playful and unpretentious, yet highly perfectionistic energy bomb that is Snarky Puppy. Which is just one of many, many examples of new music enjoyed by grumpy old teenagers in their late forties.

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 12:28:20 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I'm quarter aged; I like a ton of new music and can appreciate a good pop song for what it is. That song just sucks.

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 11:49:26 ET
Posted by: ,

I like that song. What is it that's so horrible about it, or is it just that some people are physiologically unable to not hate music issued after they have attained middle age?

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 08:11:45 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Brainstrainer, you are the worst ever. I had forgotten about that song; now I remember it.

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 06:33:42 ET
Posted by: bobbo, Everstained

Hey Strainer,

I'll half-heartedly agree with our mutual Friend of the Blue on the general disappointment and subsequent creeping malaise your latest query (in the form of an off-the-wall audio clip) conjures for the listener...good God, man.

That being said, what we've got here is a minor chord progression and melody line that's modulated around the first of said chord triad, complete with a hip/hop beat--though some of the background evokes "What I Do" from the excellent MORPH THE CAT, my closest guess is that, musically at least, nothing in Don's solo canon is more similar (and it's a far fucking cry mind you) than "Brite Nightgown," to be found directly following the aforementioned ode to Mr. Charles on same said very fine album.

Please send all prizes and further accolades to my Blue Hideout in the wilds of north/central Texas, USA--where I am healing this Brain Strainer's apparent sonic damage with repeated spins of the Doobies' "I Cheat the Hangman"--which is what Everlast was probably going for, one can hope. Best wishes, pard.


Okay,
Bobbo

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 06:28:52 ET
Posted by: bobbo, Everstained

Hey Strainer,

I'll half-heartedly agree with our mutual Friend of the Blue on the general disappointment and subsequent creeping malaise your latest query (in the form of an off-the-wall audio clip) conjures for the listener...good God, man.

That being said, what we've got here is a minor chord progression and melody line that's modulated around the first of said chord triad, complete with a hip/hop beat--though some of the background evokes "What I Do" from the excellent MORPH THE CAT, my closest guess is that, musically at least, nothing in Don's solo canon is more similar (and it's a far fucking cry mind you) than "Brite Nightgown," to be found directly following the aforementioned ode to Mr. Charles on same said very fine album.

Please send all prizes and further accolades to my Blue Hideout in the wilds of north/central Texas, USA--where I am healing this Brain Strainer's apparent sonic damage with repeated spins of the Doobies' "I Cheat the Hangman"--which is what Everlast was probably going for, one can hope. Best wishes, pard.


Okay,
Bobbo

Date: Tues, February 05, 2013, 01:25:17 ET
Posted by: My Guess, USA

Shanghai Confidential

Date: Mon, February 04, 2013, 16:54:57 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, ouch, that hurt.

Brain Strainer, that was a bad thing to do.
I know should've known better than to check out a Youtube video with someone named "Everlast", but of course stupid had to go there.
So, how do you expect anyone to do the strainer when the audio clip that goes along with the question is useful for one thing and one thing only, and that's to make ears rot and heads implode from an otherwise psychologically interesting combination of fear and embarrassment?
I can't listen to such sonic pollution long enough to recognize anything familiar at all, except what must be the sediment of the baddest ShitFM Radio of the last 25 years.
Lots of dark, dark things mashed up and extracted into one hyper dark singularity, with which everything is wrong. This is probably what they mean by "the devil is in the details". If you're the finicky type you might add that "What It's Like" by Everlast proves the old goat is undoubtly present in the whole as well, and I wouldn' argue at all, but whether the exact characteristics of evil is of this or that nature, it certainly won't change the fact that I for one am totally unable to listen. Too bad.
And btw, what's wrong with today's brats? Even my kids - and they're Norwegians like myself - knows it's spelled "Evvalast". Holy crap.

TO Danfan,
After hearing "Neverlast" ... everything, even DRAman's "Fire Again", sounds like aural honey dripping from unmentionable body parts of angels.

Disclaimer:
All of the above is, of course, just brief impressions of reality inaccurately mediated by yours truly.
It's not to be mistaken for the final truth - however much I'll be willing to swear it IS, over a cold beverage and a smoke a bit later on (probably won't be long, either).
It's only what is known as "My Humble Opinion", allthough I realize not everyone will agree it's really that humble after all, but you can't have it all everytime, can you? It IS an opinion anyway, and the only one I have to offer in this case. Humble is next week, maybe.

Date: Mon, February 04, 2013, 15:07:33 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

nm, wrong Richard...at the end of the Plantagenets, not the beginning...gotta brush up on my Shakespeare

Date: Mon, February 04, 2013, 14:30:05 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu, farandwide

...so, Good King Richard's bones were rolled out from under a parking lot in Leicester. Turns out he really did have scoliosis and a hunched frame under 5 ft 8 in.

Raise up you glass to Good King John!


"And though we sung his fame
We all went hungry just the same"

Date: Mon, February 04, 2013, 13:06:33 ET
Posted by: TO Danfan, Steely dubstep?

From John Sakamoto's Anti-hit List - An Alternative Top 10, in Saturdays Toronto Star, here is number 7. Chase Status vs Steely Dan "Fire Again"

John says "the wobble-heavy result will likely appeal more to acolytes of the former - or one of their clients (Rihanna, Cee Lo, Dizee Rascal) - than the latter, though if there's one band whose fans should be accustomed to perverse pairings, it's Steely Dan"

Not really my cup of tea but kind of interesting. One of the weirdest Dan mashups I've heard. How about you? Here's the link

http://www.mashupciti.com/mashup-music/fire-again/

Cheers

Date: Mon, February 04, 2013, 13:05:06 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Tonite's Strainer is an audio type, which does not appear very often, and deals with a tune that exists within the solo studio Fagen discography. You may or may not have to give this tune a listen in order to determine the tune within solo studio Fagen "What It's Like".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwoNQvSOxM8

Difficulty level is prolly a 5.5 out of 10.

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 14:26:47 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Living hard will take its toll

Corrections:

"didn't wasn't"? 86 the "didn't"

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 14:25:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

pixeleen, a good sign, I think. Good thing the nurse wasn't named "Pixeleen". Nobody wants to be treated by someone under 10 years old.

As for Lucky Henry I can certainly understand where S. Victor is coming from. I admit I didn't wasn't the biggest fan or 11-TOW when it was first released. I really didn't give it enough of a chance, and Lucky Henry was one of the songs I didn't warm up to at that time. But I have come back to the album, enjoying it much more now, and Lucky Henry is one of the reasons for that, too.

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 13:09:18 ET
Posted by: pixeleen,

Unfortunately, had to have some surgery last week and my pre-op nurse's name was........AJA.......

Yes....her parents' are huge SD fans.

Must have been good karma of some kind.

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 12:25:48 ET
Posted by: vic,

DF just should have brought in Denny Diaz to play the solo on Planet D'Rhonda. I mean after all, Kurt Rosenwinkel sounds like the poor mans Denny Diaz.... Or "Denny Diaz light" if you may.

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 12:09:59 ET
Posted by: southeast of holllywood, same as above

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/02/03/steely-dan-sunday-lucky-henry-1994/


uneven?

Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 11:38:39 ET
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Date: Sun, February 03, 2013, 03:43:50 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Dean,

I agree with you, for us it's hard to find great new music outside of SD and jazz these days. Last great one I remember was Stevie Wonder - about 5 years ago? Perhaps longer. Ignorant, I know.

Jazzwise, Kurt Rosenwinkel's new 2cd set is fantastic and
Planet d'Rhonda has become my favorite tune on SC, also sounds the best, imo.
He starts his US tour here in SF/Santa Cruz in 2 weeks!

Beauty Room II is a treat. I am a little shocked how good it is.
These guys have a vision, it deserves to be bought as a hard copy and played loudly as the sound is much better than on the PM3 download.
Orchestra often times gets in the way or is overbearing in these kind of projects but not here. And look who did the arrangements.
Vocals too, the Brazilian guy is for real.
Don't worry, it will draw you in.
Listening to # 7 intro I had to think of Green Room and what if D&W went there and took it to the next level.

Yes, it would have been nice if Jon Herington did the guitar solos.

Here is a little more info and it's no surprise who they credit....
http://mb.mercedes-benz.com/en/article/3816/The+Beauty+Room

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 18:22:34 ET
Posted by: Pete, NYC

The correct date for that Metheny/Fagen show was Dec 1991. It was not 1993

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 16:19:51 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, seagull hunting

Thanks fagenism.
Nice find. Despite both Fagen and Metheny being amongst my definate musical heroes, I don't think the experiment turned out that fantastic after all, but it was cool to be able to hear it anyway!

Sign In Stranger with Fagen/Metheny has been out there for a while, but this clip was new to me.

Also, Black Friday is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--ieZpduy9k

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 15:51:49 ET
Posted by: fagenism, Bleecker Street

Pat Metheny joins Don on FM anno 1993, playing his controversial seagull synth guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYZGrRowGKc

PS. In spite of what you hear, no actual seagulls were killed on stage. DS.

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 12:01:39 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, on the quick

Many thanks, Bikeman17.

Also: Thanks to Dean for recent assistance.

Jim

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 09:19:10 ET
Posted by: Paul,

Just a reminder that SD alum, Cynthia Calhoun (2000 & 2003) will be performing tonight with Roxboro Entertainment recording artist Sunnie Paxson at Vitello's in Studio City CA. They'll be joined for an evening of jazz by Dan Lutz (paul brown, peter white, sheila e, andy summers, larry carlton,...) on bass and Jimmy Paxson (stanley clarke, stevie nicks, rod stewart, steve vai,...)on drums.

Feel free to check out Cynthia's FB page and/or website.

Date: Sat, February 02, 2013, 07:21:24 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

OH Pete [from Aspen],,Ya gotta know this is a big no no here!

Date: Fri, February 01, 2013, 19:40:20 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Lutz,

Thanks for the Beauty Room tip. I've just finished listening to The Beauty Room II and it is very interesting. I can't say I love it just yet, but I find it interesting enough to listen to again soon. Beautiful harmonies, that's for sure. Nice take on Traffic's Heaven is in Your Mind--not as thrilling as the Traffic original, IMO, but quite nice. Everyone seems to be raving about Walking the Fine Line, and for good reason I think.

It's rare I listen to something brand new these days that piques my interest, so this has already broken through the toughest barrier for me. I will listen another time or two, and if things go as I expect, i will purchase it.

For those who are interested, you can hear the album on grooveshark or buy it here:

Download (great deal):

http://www.amazon.com/The-Beauty-Room-II/dp/B008Z7J3OY

CD (a bit overpriced, IMO):

http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Room-II/dp/B008RTJOO4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1359765516&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Beauty+Room+II

Date: Fri, February 01, 2013, 11:30:07 ET
Posted by: Nate, vermont

John Denver is Skyping concerts? Must be Roger working his magic from beyond. Immortal indeed.

Date: Thurs, January 31, 2013, 22:52:55 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

New Beauty Room cd is out, good stuff.
A few years ago I got turned on to them by this board and SD fans here gave their first cd thumbs up.
2013 Tour should be SD.

Date: Thurs, January 31, 2013, 22:48:56 ET
Posted by: pepe, this just in

the Guaraldi tune is Billie's Bounce by Charlie Parker

Date: Thurs, January 31, 2013, 21:40:09 ET
Posted by: As far as Walt, ...

Toni, Walt's website states he has only one site on MySpace. All others are not his: http://walterbecker.com/socialnetspop.html

Date: Thurs, January 31, 2013, 17:59:16 ET
Posted by: toni,

Does anyone know if Steely Dan, Donald Fagen or Walter Backer have a real Facebook profile or if all of them are just made by fans?

Date: Thurs, January 31, 2013, 06:54:00 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, skating

pepe,

I'm a big fan of Guaraldi, but can't help identify the songcloud live track. Made me curious, though. I will try to investigate a little.
Thanks for the link anyway. Good stuff!

Date: Wed, January 30, 2013, 21:21:01 ET
Posted by: Ben, Indy

Whatever the summer holds, I just hope to party with Don and Walt and the best band and fans ever as long as possible. 2Pac became a hologram, John Denver's band plays with him on a screen, and here's Steely's "B Team" showing they have a ways to go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DcdHbeosRA


A new doc shows some love for back-up singers such as Patti Austin:

http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2013/01/23/30205/20-feet-from-stardom-first-film-to-sell-at-sundanc/

Date: Wed, January 30, 2013, 20:47:06 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

While I'd prefer a real SD tour, or a solo tour by Walter or Don, I have to say The Dukes show was the most fun I have had at a concert in years. IMO a TRUE fan of Don or Walt wants to hear whatever it is they want to play. And, as far as a money grab: is concerned, I'm virtually positive a SD tour makes Don far more money than a Dukes tour.

Date: Wed, January 30, 2013, 20:30:51 ET
Posted by: pepe,

Donald clearly enjoys the hell out of the Dukes experience. they're not my first choice, but it has been fun to see what obscure tunes they dig up each tour. and to see Donald smiling.

the ship has sailed on a DF solo tour i'm afraid. it would be nice to hear a few tunes from Sunken Condos either with Steely Dan or The Dukes, but that probably won't happen either. even when Donald toured behind Morph, he didn't really feature much of it in his shows.

it will be interesting to see what kind of special setlist shows we get in 2013 with SD... if any. here's hoping for a Rarities Night 2!


one other thing... any Vince Guaraldi fans in the house? yes the guy behind the Peanuts soundtrack, the legendary jazz pianist. I've always loved his work but only recently decided to collect his entire discography. can anyone name this tune? https://soundcloud.com/bossaroo/vince-guaraldi-live

Date: Wed, January 30, 2013, 19:37:15 ET
Posted by: ted, Seattle

Agreed Paul! The Dukes are boring as shit! A DF solo tour would be the bomb!

Date: Wed, January 30, 2013, 17:34:02 ET
Posted by: Paul G., No more Dukes!!!

Down with the Dukes! No true fan wants any more of that. I am tired of it. It is just a money maker for Donald, which is OK for him. It is just me and many others I know are not buying it. What we want and deserve in this order

Donald tours alone to play Sunken Condos and to see new songs played live. The problem is it won't draw enough people to make enough money.
Next would be a new Steely Dan album and supporting tour which would draw enough fans to make money. The problem is that this would require Walter who has probably retired to Hawaii for good. He is about 65 and can your blame him? A Dan album probably could be done by Donald doing most of the work and Walter working on tracks remotely from Hawaii. He could come to the mainland for the final mix. Donald used up most of his good material to make Sunken Condos after Walter turned him down for use as a Steely Dan album. It will take a long time to come up with more songs.

I think Walter is done. I don't think he wants to travel or make any more Dan albums he has made enough money off of it. He was already showing signs of wear and tear last time out. We are probably going to be stuck with maybe one or two more Donald albums and the only public appearances of Donald will be with Dukes which we are SICK of or up at Woodstock. Everything must go.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 22:59:01 ET
Posted by: vic,

Probably be a Dukes Of September tour

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 22:08:31 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Uh, you may quite immodestly think you are usually right (don't we all?) but I think you may be a bit confused about what Jazz and Chris are taking about. Nobody in this discussion (except perhaps for PurplePig in his response) is suggesting there will be a tour because Don has mentioned it in any number of interviews. If that was the point, you'd be spot on.

The discussion (for most of us) centers on the appearance of a cryptic post by Lewis, which simply gives dates. In the past that has been a pretty good indicator of a tour, and the dates tend to be pretty on the money (except for perhaps tour extensions announced later).

I assume it is a Steely Dan tour, and not a solo tour, but who really knows at this point? And I'm with those who would prefer a new album, but I will take a tour any time. And they can play whatever the fuck they want to play as far as I'm concerned. Seeing as how the special nights have been a staple of recent tours, I'd also expect them to continue--and maybe expand on them a bit.

Of course, all of this is simply my opinion and speculation.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 20:16:55 ET
Posted by: UH?,

Chris: So am I

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 19:25:06 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

Well,once again, I am hoping the person who won the reel to reel tape auction is of a sharing nature. If you are on this forum, please let us hear them.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 18:45:38 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

In Lewis We Trust. Great track record. I for one would love it to
be a solo tour, but I have my doubts. Will take anything I can get.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 15:06:20 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

UH - Lewis is usually correct.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 14:21:23 ET
Posted by: UH?,

Since when has Donald or Walter's word on when they will tour or make a record been taken seriously? They just tell the interviewer what they want to hear at the time of the interview. Anybody that has been following these guys for these many years should know this.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 09:50:20 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Planet D'Tour

Purple Pig,
Thanks for the link. I too have seen various interviews where a possible SD tour in 2013 has been mentioned. A handful of them was linked to here at the Bluebook.
But when Lewis starts to come up with specific dates but no further info it's time to expect confirmed dates and ticket presales any day. This has happened before anyway. ;o)
It might be a SD tour, or a DF Solo tour. Both are possible, and both are most welcome.

Date: Tues, January 29, 2013, 09:26:36 ET
Posted by: snarky?,

This guy is horrible. It might be snarky if what he writes was even close to the mark

If Steely Dan worked to sound like the actual future

WRONG The Dan songs are always at or ahead of their time thematically. It shows how little he gets the Dan.

Rather than Donald Fagen’s nostalgic 1950s Worlds Fair perspective on it, they might sound something like Brooklyn’s Ava Luna

WRONG This a-hole unwittingly thinks that he is referring to the International Geophysical Year (IGY)1958 and into 1959 which really was a series of worldwide technology symposia as opposed to a world technology Fair taking place in a host city. Besides, that IGY futuristic perspective only represents maybe 15 percent of the total Dan, Donald and Walter discography.

Snark can only be effective when you have the real insight on what you are attacking. This guy is clueless about the Dan and world history and as a result it backfired on this dickhead himself.

Date: Mon, January 28, 2013, 21:42:40 ET
Posted by: Purple Pig, Arizona

Hey Jazzassin...Here's a link where Donald mentions that a Steely Dan tour for 2013 will probably occur. It's b1027.com/rock-report-donald-fagen-looking-ahead/

Date: Mon, January 28, 2013, 17:40:49 ET
Posted by: cold porter, @ midtown library

...that's a great interview.....I agree with Donald...it is nice to listen to an album all the way through....but 40 minutes is about right for me ;-D

interesting that he mentioned the song about 'Congress of Vienna' - I believe he mentioned...writing that one in an interview in New Times....circa Jan '77...he also said in that '77 interview that Steely Dan was in the process recording 18 songs! for their next album.....the original idea was for Aja to be a double album....wonder when all the Maxell tapes for these will be on ebay....har dee harr harr

Date: Sun, January 27, 2013, 23:13:10 ET
Posted by: search, k

Haven't seen this interview posted yet.

http://www.americansongwriter.com/2013/01/role-models-donald-fagen/

Date: Sun, January 27, 2013, 21:58:36 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Hmmmm....something a little too snarky here. Chicago Sun-Times wrote last Friday:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weekend/17663206-421/the-mix-cool-things-to-do-012513.html

FEELIN’ GROOVE-Y

If Steely Dan worked to sound like the actual future, rather than Donald Fagen’s nostalgic 1950s Worlds Fair perspective on it, they might sound something like Brooklyn’s Ava Luna. A thrilling, lurching, bewildering, surprising frenzy of genre-splicing, this sextet’s club shows are peppered with grooves and glitches. It’s headbanging dubstep, it’s postmodern soul, full of sound and fury. Summer Girlfriends and Celestial Shore open at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western. Tickets: $7. Call (773)276-3600; www.emptybottle.com.

===

I'm guessing this is written by the music critic who replaced Jim DeRogatis.

Date: Sun, January 27, 2013, 11:28:33 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, the booth

Lewis, Dean, Ray ... are you guys referring to a DF 2013 late summer tour? Could anyone be so kind as to inform us a little more on the details and/or provide a link to the actual info?

Date: Fri, January 25, 2013, 13:41:36 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, SoBe

Thanks for the info Lewis!

Looks like a pretty long tour.

Which bodes well for our friends across
the pond and beyond.

Wonder if there will be any "special"
dates?

I sure hope so ;O)

Date: Fri, January 25, 2013, 04:03:50 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972, The Hague

Yeah, I had noticed later as well that it wasn't Shelby after all, thanks for confirming!

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 22:51:52 ET
Posted by: berry, uk

i am berry from uk i want to share my happiness with the general public of what DR cafai of africa has done for me in the last few weeks i was once in love this guy called mccatty we in love with each other until travelled out of my state for two year and we promise ourselve to be together forever, but before return from my journey he where now having another lover when i try to come back to he. He told me i should go away i love him so much that i could not let he go just like that then i told a friend about it and she advice me and recommend this man ogun for me when i visit he at cafaispiritualtemple@yahoo.com he only ask me to buy some items for sacrifices to help me get my ex back and he actualy did it and it work well and today i am happy with incase any one is out there with same problem or any kind i advice he or she to contact this man today at cafaispiritualtemple@yahoo.com and with what he did for me i belive he can also help you thank once again Dr cafai

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 21:08:07 ET
Posted by: no one important,

funkaholic,

i'm a big d'angelo fan as well. however, i must correct you on one thing. shelby j. is not featured in the "lady" live video you posted. she was not in d's backing band at the point. she, along with anthony hamilton, joined later (just prior to the "voodoo" tour).

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 20:52:20 ET
Posted by: Cold Porter, amid the stacks

the mystery continues....

sure wish these rarities were coming out in a real box set

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scotch-Master-reel-to-reel-Tape-STEELY-DAN-for-REVOX-AMPEX-AKAI-TEAC-/251218923278?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item3a7dd08f0e

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 18:00:49 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

Jim: I had my eye on the big outdoor Festivals that announce this time of Year: Beale Street and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage; both venues that SD played in 2007. No joy, unless they are a late add, which the NOJ&HF does sometimes.

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 15:52:39 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. Almost Happy Hour!

Lewis

Damn I sure hope so. Consider me ready.

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 12:58:28 ET
Posted by: Lewis, Stuttgart

7/13-10/13

Date: Thurs, January 24, 2013, 05:16:16 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972, The Hague

@Chris:

No I didn't catch D'Angelo in 2012 unfortunately. But I've seen some 2012 performances on Youtube, still very good. But maybe not as good (yet) as the 2000 Voodoo tour.

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 23:27:39 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

Misheard lyric from Good Stuff;

'It's a relief to get my chinadas.'

Like DF was hungry and waiting in a fast food Tex Mex restaurant.

Not that I really thought he was saying 'my chinadas' (marching orders), but I had to look at the lyrics to figure it out.

C'mon, tell me you don't hear that !

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 18:50:55 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Funkaholic - no shit!!! Lucky you!! Were you able to catch the band on his most recent tour? Chris Daddy Dave and Pino ...damn!

Hoping to catch them next time they're on tour here ... missed their Boston 2012 date, sincerely hope it's not the last time D'Angelo is on the stage in the northeast.

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 17:12:27 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago, really on the quick, as usual

Yes, I better take out the spam!

In the mean time, keep in mind that one of the earliest indicators of concert tours by members of our favorite duo have been those venues that have subscription series that go on sale very early.

In the past, early "concert series" schedules at Tanglewood (western Mass.), Chastain (Atlanta area) and Ravina (Chicagoland/Milwaukee) have been the first to not only let us know dates, but also effectively tell us that there is a tour. This is all based on the premise that some musical act featuring Donald Fagen and/or Walter Becker actually plays one of those venues.

I was reminded by this since Ravina just announced Sting and Jewel are playing dates this year. All three venues show a lot of classical performances at this point, but no other pop.

Anyhow, it's a place to check.

Best,

Jim

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 15:20:28 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972, The Hague

Thanks for that link BTW, great to be able to see the gig again!

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 14:15:31 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972, The Hague

@Chris:

Dude, I was there at that very gig, standing almost in front!!! It was absolutely amazing, one of the best funk/rnb shows I have ever seen...

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 09:42:25 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I highly recommend checking out this set of videos to see a full live performance with perfect audio .... that's ?uestlove on drums and Pino Palladino on bass. Wish I knew what was up in 2001, the Voodoo tour is the stuff of legend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jcittcy-nw

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 09:39:20 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Funkaholic - I love D'Angelo - I think Voodoo is one of the best records of all time, and anxiously await his next one...

Thanks for posting that ... awesome stuff.

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 09:31:01 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972, The Hague

Been lurking the past few months, hope you're all well!

Total off topic, but I have just found this amazing performance of "Lady" by D'Angelo and wanted to share here. Anyone into tight, funky soul grooves with heavenly vocals will have to love this!

Angie Stone and Shelby J (now in Prince's band) are amongst the backup singers. Very tasty guitar work too...

Anyone here into this kinda stuff?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9SXZSnJDZU

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 05:32:12 ET
Posted by: Duncan, UK

Small snippet here of My Old School from David Lee Roth !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J54Eoh6bxTU&feature=youtu.be

Date: Wed, January 23, 2013, 05:32:01 ET
Posted by: Duncan, UK

Small snippet here of My Old School from David Lee Roth !

Date: Tues, January 22, 2013, 09:46:02 ET
Posted by: JJ, P

That change of spelling would seem fishy to me.

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 23:47:34 ET
Posted by: ted,

Greg M - All good. I thought it was funny.

I liked Dennis Chambers myself. Love Tom Barney as well!

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 20:32:31 ET
Posted by: Greg M, ssdfasdf

Thought the Wadenius x100 post was Moray back to his old tricks. My bad!

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 19:45:41 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Jem.

"Truly, truly, truly Outrageous"

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 17:21:43 ET
Posted by: ted,

Greg - Did you ever think that post by "uh?" was pretty much telling moray eel to go f**k himself? That's what I got out of it. Relax is right.

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 16:53:33 ET
Posted by: Jem, Jem

Greg -- It's a joke on a free message board. Lighten up.

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 16:37:31 ET
Posted by: Greg M, wtf

yeah, that's great comedy.
(idiotic)

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 15:50:41 ET
Posted by: UH?,

This is mine"

Drums: Georg Wadenius
Percussion Georg Wadenius
Bass: Georg Wadenius
Guitar 1 Georg Wadenius
Guitar 2 Georg Wadenius
Piano: Georg Wadenius
bck vox: Georg Wadenius
bck vox: bck vox: Georg Wadenius
rhodes, vox Georg Wadenius
Behind the mixing board: Georg Wadenius

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 15:40:34 ET
Posted by: Greg M, ..

below being my "all star" band

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 15:39:54 ET
Posted by: Greg M, wp

Drums: Jeff Porcaro (sigh)
Percussion (vibes, marimba, shakers etc.): Bill Ware or someone with equivalent skill
Bass: Tom Barney (sorry, love the menace in his playing)
Guitar 1 Herrington (jack of all trades, master of all)
Guitar 2 Krantz
Piano: Ted Baker or Jim Beard

bck vox: Jeff Young
bck vox: M McDonald
bck vox: Catherine Russell

Donald: rhodes, vox
Behind the mixing board: Walter =P

Date: Mon, January 21, 2013, 14:27:36 ET
Posted by: Toni,

I just wondered if you could pick any players to play in the steely dan band who would they be, dead people included? Sort of a Steely Dan ALL STAR Band :)

For guitar i think Jon Herrington is a really good all-rounder so I ll stick with him
For second guitar Larry Carlton would be great, he could swap with Herrington from time to time.
On bass I would love to see Walter Becker
In my opinion Mozart would be cool on Piano and organ if he would ever recover from the musical shock :)
I would definitely pick Cornelius Bumpus on Saxophone and Michael Leonhart on Trumpet.
Than I would take Carlock and Purdie for the two drums. (Would love to hear them both on a 10 minutes long Aja drum solo)
I always considered the backup singers from the 2vN tour the best so I would use them and Michael Mc Donald as well but with a very low volume and as a background singer ONLY.
And of course Donald with his Key-tar :)
Whats your all- star band?

Date: Sun, January 20, 2013, 11:02:10 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

SS- The audience reaction is great after the solo. Washington and Carlock really stand out on that track as well. Hell, the whole band was locked in nicely that night. DF's vocals really strong too.

Date: Sun, January 20, 2013, 03:02:45 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

Hey Hutch,

Glad to see someone else knocked out by the Krantz Nightfly solo on the DF tour stop in Toronto. It was 180 away degrees from what Larry Carlton did on the album.

Date: Sat, January 19, 2013, 22:09:39 ET
Posted by: Greg M, wp

Wadenius ruined the 1994 tour?? A rather dumb statement. The man is an animal. Amazing solos. True Companion (live) anyone?

<<<Good thing was that after the tour ended, DF and WB never used him again.>>>

A patently incorrect statement. I won't even go into it but you're wrong.

Date: Sat, January 19, 2013, 14:33:48 ET
Posted by: UH?,

moray eel, Yeah...and they didn't use Peter Erskin and Dennis Chambers again either after one tour. Does that mean they suck too? You're way off base, bud.

Date: Sat, January 19, 2013, 12:53:24 ET
Posted by: moray eel, by

Don't understand the love for Wadenius. He ruined the 1994 tour with his repetitive speed and stop antics. The guy kept breaking his strings during his solos.

Good thing was that after the tour ended, DF and WB never used him again.

m.e.

Date: Sat, January 19, 2013, 00:13:39 ET
Posted by: MM, &I

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183505/soundtrack

Also listed is Midnite Cruiser and Chain Lightning. Neither are on the CD

Date: Sat, January 19, 2013, 00:10:51 ET
Posted by: The , Answer

"Monkey In Your Soul"
Written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
Performed by Freedy Johnston
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 23:42:42 ET
Posted by: RP, NC

Watching Me Myself & Irene on the Fox Movie Channel. I own the Soundtrack and on it there are 8 covers of Dan tunes from the first 4 albums. This part I didn't know..there is at least one more in the movie...I just heard an instrumental version of Monkey In My Soul which does not appear on the soundtrack. Not sure which band covered it.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 21:06:38 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

My first SD show was 1996 at Virginia Beach. It was the second show on the Art Crimes tour. Yeah, Krantz really put me off a bit. I thought his solos that night were way too outside for the songs. But then I loved his work on Morph with Jon. It was that and stuff like that astonishing solo on The Nightfly from the Massey Hall boot that brought me over to really digging his style. As a guitarist what intrigues me is his percussive staccato attack. And a kind of a raunchy tone but perfect for his style. I think if Picasso had played guitar he would sound like Wayne Krantz.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 20:06:31 ET
Posted by: Paul ,

Steely Dan alum, Cynthia Calhoun (2000 & 2003) will be performing with Roxboro Entertainment recording artist Sunnie Paxson on Feb 2nd at Vitello's Upstairs Jazz & Supper Club in Studio City CA. They'll be joined by Dan Lutz (paul brown, peter white, sheila e, andy summers, larry carlton,...) on bass and Jimmy Paxson (stanley clarke, stevie nicks, rod stewart, steve vai,...)on drums.

Feel free to check out Cynthia's FB page and/or website.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 18:06:40 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

#1 live guitarist, I should say. #1 recorded is a different debate entirely ...

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 18:05:11 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

I can understand not everyone ranking Wayne Krantz as the number 1 Steely Dan guitarist. But anyone who dismisses his work on any Steely Dan/Fagen work like that reviewer needs to wash the shit out of their ears.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 17:55:54 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

I'm a fan of Krantz in general and liked what he did on the Fagen solo tour. However, I have always thought he isn't the prototypical Steely Dan player, Wadenius may have been more "true" to the original solos, but I wasn't all that crazy about his stuff either. I don't dislike either guy. They both are excellent musicians and as a fan at a concert I appreciated their musicianship. (I try not to let my expectations interfere with appreciating good music. I'm not perfect at this, I admit. But I find I enjoy music more if I let it happen and keep expectations at bay.) I thought Drew Zingg's style was great for the band.

Herington keeps getting better as a SD guitarist, IMO. He strikes a great balance between replicating the essence of what made the original solos great and memorable, while adding his own style and not being too derivative.

There was something very exciting about those bands early in the reformation of The Dan. There are elements I miss (particularly the vibes). But I think the new band is the best BAND, at least in concert, they have had. Certainly the tightest.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 16:55:48 ET
Posted by: UH?,

Lk: Thanks! That's exactly what I was talking about. Goerg in '94 was a better fit for SD.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 15:38:22 ET
Posted by: LK, on location

This reviewer thought Krantz did more of the same in '06.

http://granatino.com/sdresource/060320%20chicago%20sun%20times.htm

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 13:46:43 ET
Posted by: UH?,

moray eel, "Wadenius" mistake? I hate to break it to you, but Wadenius went over a lot better with crowds than Kratz ever did with SD! Wayne redeemed himself on the Fagen solo tour in 2006 when he decided to play the solos more true to the records. On the 1996 tour he went so far off into his own world that the majority of the fans didn't care for it. Georg did a very nice job in '94...far from a "mistake".

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 09:25:03 ET
Posted by: DYLNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

NEUTRAL Q, you made my day by dropping one of my all-time favorite
sayings. " No good deed goes unpunished" now back to our regularly
scheduled programing.

Date: Fri, January 18, 2013, 08:57:04 ET
Posted by: Mr. Wadenius, out and about

Mr. Eel - I thought that the Alive in America liner notes referred to one particular performance of mine with the words: Wadenius rocks! Do I misremember after all these years? Was it instead: Wadenius sucks?

Why the hate?

Regards,
Georg

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 21:27:32 ET
Posted by: moray eel, pine

1996 SD tour at Pine Knob?

Donald's voice sounded as good as it ever had on any of the studio CDs. Wayne Krantz was a nice, creative upgrade over the "Wadenius" mistake.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 17:28:55 ET
Posted by: Ben, Indy

Seeing the '96 Art Crimes Tour mentioned recently takes me back to an unforgetable, yet mentally foggy night in Clarkston, MI. I popped my SD cherry at Pine Knob, and I'm hoping to see a loooong list of concert dates appear soon for Lucky '13!

New flick comin' featuring the Queen of Soul:

http://movieline.com/2013/01/15/muscle-shoals-trailer-mick-jagger-keith-richards-lynyrd-skynyrd-dave-grohl/

New tour comin' featuring alum Chris Potter and other greats:

http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org/2012/on-tour/dates

Has anyone caught The Who's current Quadrophenia show, or been to an Allman Brother Beacon blast?

This Doomsday prediction shit's gettin stale, but I'll go ahead and put my money on the UFOs landing right after Don and Walt and the band walk offstage after a three hour set at Bonnaroo.

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 16:06:32 ET
Posted by: Another Neutral,

I know St Al and Hoops both agree that it gets boring when the discussion turns to being all about the forums themselves.

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 14:27:57 ET
Posted by: Neutral, Q

How much did St. Al charge fans to access his site to warrant such criticism? No good deed goes unpunished.

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 10:53:43 ET
Posted by: anton,

Some people really liked that 1996 touring band? Michelle Wiley sounded like she was singing in Les Misérables. Absolutely horrible!

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 10:36:09 ET
Posted by: Lurker,

moray eel - Don't mention Hoops and St Al in the same breath. St Al is a causal fan that one day just decided to throw up a SD message board. Hoops actually loves the band and as done much more to help promote Donald and Walter's music, as well as help the band sell tickets to their shows. St Al couldn't care less and would rather be talking about The String Cheese Incident and Obamacare.

Date: Thurs, January 17, 2013, 01:19:07 ET
Posted by: moray eel, clar

Hoops: I meant no offense. I was just saying that I found both sites to be quite the same. I worded it poorly.

1. I found that you and St. Al moderated the board more than you engaged in the daily banter.

2. You both openly displayed strong interests in other musical acts and weren't only Steely-centric.

3. Most message boards switched to threaded formats many years ago. The yellow and blue books both resisted making that change.

I found both sites gave posters the same type of experience.

m.e.

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 23:44:05 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

Going back to the Walter singing thread...Wouldn't it be wonderful if they did "Paging Audrey" live? Has it ever been performed live before?

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 23:39:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Hutch - it's remarkable how much of the phrasing chosen sounds like Fagen's blues harp. Condo's IMO is closer in quality to The Nightfly than I could have imagined...




Dean: Help me Rhondo, help, help me Rhondo

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 19:36:07 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

I started to read those USA posts, until I couldn't figure out what the fuck they were about. As 8 out of 10 notes, the few I read sound like fake stats. i spent about 20 years as a research professional. Unless you know the study's sponsor, have the research instrument, have the methodology, have access to the raw data and have some ability to analyze data, citing bullshit stats you read somewhere just makes you sound like a moron--at least to me. My near universal response to research reports, and stat quotes is, "show me the data and methodology". Most of what you read and hear is uninformed bullshit.


Doc Mu, i think there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I admit I'm confused. Ghanda and Rondo = Rhondo?

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 18:21:56 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

This #1 shit is about as far from SD related as anything I've seen here. Take it to a political forum.

The interview with Will Galison that was posted a while back was pretty cool. I recall him talking about how many passes they did tracking his solos and then, in some cases, piecing them together to get the best end result. I'm wondering how much piecing together was done with the one for New Breed. It's a beautiful solo. Starts out with the melodic theme and runs through some obviously Fagenesque phrasing and ends right back on the melody line. A work of art.

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 14:07:13 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Dean - if he's singing the Rondo it's Rhondo

As far as blue v. yellow = green

Pat decided the way to take care of belligerent anon posters was to set up a threaded forum requiring log in and approvals up front. i.p.s track multiple bogus personnas. Jim's MO re: inappropriate posts (anon or not) has been to edit the G'book. To each their own.

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 07:50:48 ET
Posted by: 8 out of 10, cats

Ha ha ... Love the battle of the 'fake statistics'!! The phrase 'than anywhere else in the world ' is scientifically meaningless. You can only compare specific population sizes,(ie - actual numbers !) to come up with meaningful statistical analysis. It does serve to remind us, entertainingly, that we are served up ACTUAL meaningless gibberish like that by the media every day, skewed in whichever way suits their masters - and we just grunt and nod. Oh, and the USA contains more successful, original, creative bands called Steely Dan 'than anywhere else in the world'...

Date: Wed, January 16, 2013, 04:14:17 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

SC currently 26 in the Amazon top 100 in the UK yet can't even make it in the UK official top 100 ?? Strange !

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 17:53:29 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Pietro,

Makes some sense, actually. I bet food was a big part of the discussion between these men. (Maybe sex, too--but they are getting on in years.)

Thanks.

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 16:58:38 ET
Posted by: 30 Italian names for the male part ?,

The United States has over 60 names as of the last count.

Just one more area where the United States is the world leader.

Now need to add in Slinky Thing and Pins and Seven from Miss Marlene

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 13:14:38 ET
Posted by: Pietro, Milano

when we talk about food or sex, we speak totally different languages from town to town...it's strange, but maybe we speak different languages only when we are talking about two of the most important things in life...I remember that once the italian actor Roberto Benigni, oscar for "La vita è bella", (he is from Tuscany, where I heard the first Dan live show in my life, the great Lucca concert)talked for twenty minutes only to do a list of the different names used in different italian regions for a part of the male body, over 30 different names in the list...

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 08:27:08 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Pietro, thanks for the contribution. Well done. As you note, most in modern Italy speak official Italian. That's why it seemed so odd to me when my friend relayed his very recent story about two educated men having communication issues. Maybe it was the accent? (That's really a question, I have no idea.)

I think the phrase "Ghana Rhondo" is English (although properly it would be "Ghanaian Rondo"). A Rondo is a song (or a dance) with a particular song structure.

Also thanks to tripstar for the translation--and the morning chuckle.

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 08:24:00 ET
Posted by: Chet, B

How many of you use SD related passwords for your various online accounts? I do, and a great way to remember them is to lyrics that some how pertain to the website. Ex. to pay my mortgage, I use lyrics from Bodhisattva about selling your house, adding my own encryption method. lol. Over the years, Peg has provided the most passwords.

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 05:33:24 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

Re: Baxter's Spanish at the end of "OAFWST": the correct Spanish translation would have been "Sólo/solamente un tonto DIRÍA eso" (conditional tense). I hear Skunk say "...(unintelligible, probably solamente)... un tonto DECíA eso", which translates as "...a fool SAID/USED TO SAY that", not "would be saying", as was posted recently.
Understandable "mistake", since the Spanish verb system is really difficult to get the hang of. Skunk actually sounds as if he can speak Spanish quite well in terms of pronunciation and fluency (far, admittedly, from Brain Strainer's command of classic and modern Korean).

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 04:24:30 ET
Posted by: fagenism, -

Pietro:

Great clarification, thank you.

*

Re: the name Aja.

I went to a wedding in Denmark last summer, and there was a girl there of Danish/Icelandic origin with the name Naja (pronounced NAH-yah).

*

Jazzassin:

The Third World Man cover was a real treat. Great find!


... and with that; back to Snarky Puppy!

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 03:31:32 ET
Posted by: Pietro, Milano

The Dean, here in Italy some old people living in small towns use to talk in "dialetto" in their everyday life, but now they know official italian too...in the first world war for the soldiers, of almost every education level, was impossible to talk each other. From the forties-fifties-sixties radio and television brought unificated official italian to the mass but in the 70s many people in small towns didn't understand every word of people from other part of Italy, but now we have only small differences from town to town and (a sad thing) young people ignore almost every word of the ancient "dialettos" of their towns or regions...
Third world man, "E' l'era del terzo mondo"= "This IS the Third World era", but "E l'era del terzo mondo" (E, not E')means "and the third world era", maybe a little mistake in liner notes..."Ghana rondo", in italian= "rondò del Ghana" o "rondò ghanese", rondò is an ancient french dance,(1600-1700?) here in Italy we call rondò the circular squares...but maybe Donald had in his mind Dave Brubeck's composition "Blues Rondo a la Turk" (a line about Brubeck is in New Fronteer)...ciao a tutti!!!

Date: Tues, January 15, 2013, 02:32:27 ET
Posted by: Juliet, usa

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Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 22:36:17 ET
Posted by: Glenn,

Jim "Not Related to Mick" Taylor; I think Hooops is talking mostly to Moray Eel's post from a few weeks ago. I'd give it a rest.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 20:44:55 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

Jim: I was trying to find the thread where I made that comment. I can't find it now, but I do remember saying that. I was aware of your involvement with EJ, and I think that's where my comment came from. I think I also said that just because I have seen Zappa and the Dead more than I have seen SD doesn't mean that I hold them in higher esteem. I think that I was trying to defend you against the charge that you had divided or waivering allegiances. Not that it matters in my mind. We all know what you mean to the community and to SD fans world wide. I never gave it a second thought. Anyhow, Happy New Year and maybe we will meet at some Danfest if the boys tour in 2013.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 18:27:26 ET
Posted by: Security Joan, Wherever Strainer isn't

Um, Strainer, would you have written that insulting little racist scenario if you thought that perhaps there might be some real Koreans reading this board? Hmmm? Never assume.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 13:46:30 ET
Posted by: ya gotta , larf

Todays 'Synapse Stresser' - what Old Testament dude dissed women and Koreans within a few short posts ?

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 12:24:25 ET
Posted by: what's wrong with you strainer,

I can't believe you actually thought out, then typed out, then posted that ignorant racial dreck. Unfortunately says a lot about you.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 12:14:21 ET
Posted by: The X Factor, Minneapolis

It's named Aja. Not a misspelling, not incorrect, it's just the name. The pseudo-racism isn't really necessary.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 06:35:38 ET
Posted by: dot com, / life

I don't think The New Breed (at least taking the song at face value) is all that interesting a subject. I can understand why people have let their imaginations run with it.

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 04:23:42 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Talking about French pronounciation, I may post this for the second time , don't know what Donald thinks about it, Hey nineteen in French!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCM8W1d34EQ

For T, Avignon is not bad as well and I was also at their first Paris show, at the end, waiting to buy the program, Catherine Deneuve was there just before me, buying tons of t-shirts !

Date: Mon, January 14, 2013, 02:10:23 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

The last Strainer, which was non-competitive, posed a question as to why "Aja" was pronounced in the song like "Asia" with a long "a", instead of what would both intuitively and what would be the general rules of English grammar should sound like "ah-zha"

EPILOGUE

Many excellent posts were made which shone "more light, more light, more light"--on the subject. From the kernels of knowledge put forth in these posts, my personal experience and other resources, what follows is a speculative, BUT plausible hypothesis as to how DF got to the spelling, and its arbitrary pronunciation as applied to the Dan's Aja LP and its title track. Key here is that the name "Aja" was said to belong to that of an actual Korean woman associated with a high school friend of DF:

Flash back to the early to mid 1950's New York metro area to the Korean Ghetto, or wherever the Korean population in NYC congregates. A Korean War refugee or disciple of Sun Myung Moon's nascent Unification Church and his young, nine-month pregnant bride in their fifth floor, walk-up squalid tenement apartment have just sat down to dinner. The husband speaks just before digging into a modest portion of bulgoki, kim-chee and bean sprouts, and says (phonetically)

"We cumma to Amellica prom Asia. Ahh So, if it is girl, I tink we name ah dottah Asia"

The wife speaks, after vigourously chewing a wad of the cheap, insufficiently fermented kim-chee "Ahh So, buttah we usee cute Amellican girl spellee. How day spellee? A-J-A?? Two weeks later, the baby girl, "AJA" was welcomed into the Korean Ghetto.

We move forward between twenty to twenty five years and DF wants to do something Asian for his next LP and he has a mental block. By happenstance he runs across his old buddy who has taken up with that very same person, who is now the grown-up, Asian-sensation, hoochie-mama, Aja. With the record company breathing down his back with deadlines, DF appropriates this name for the title track of his next LP, WITHOUT the due diligence we have come to know of his doing the research into the origins of this name "Aja", its authenticity and Oriental pedigree.

To this day, the title Aja had caused confusion as to its pronunciation, origins etc. This hypothesis might serve as a probable explanation of how it came to be and how it ended up on the biggest selling SD LP thus far. The question of Asian authenticity is left to twist in the wind.

Interestingly, there exists a popular, authentic Korean female name "Ae Cha" listed in the International Registry. Had the power of today's Information Superhighway been at DF's fingertips in the mid 1970's, "Ae Cha" might have been chosen which indeed WOULD have had the correct pronunciation and syllabically fit right into the chorus of the LP's eventual title track. And, hence, the course of history might have been altered......

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 20:14:36 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

Dear Dandom;

Happy New Year to you all. You are the best!

Probably like your family, mine's been under the weather. We celebrated Christmas a week late--just saying that to let you know I'm behind on everything, including the posts here. And as soon as I'm about to respond to a post four days after the fact, I find there's another one to respond to and then I've fallen further behind!!!!

So to respond to a few--in case it matters:

New Breed:
Not just here but it seems everywhere, I hear about this message of supposed "tolerance" where everyone agrees anything can mean whatever they want it mean for their personal experience and all. Heck, I like the way "I'm Not The Same Without You" could be about giving up smoking or some habit. Maybe Donald could license it to Nicorette. But really, it's simply about feeling OK after breaking up with someone. Does one have to read too much into it? Same sorta thing with "New Breed." Enjoy those "ice cream castles in the clouds" that you see, but I have to give some credit to my literature teachers and professors, especially one who used to say, "Interesting interpretation but do you really think the author meant that?" I took that to mean consider what's being said--sometimes it is nonsense--but often the writer's thought and effort should be respected enough such that I don't narcissistically dismiss the meaning as simply whatever I think it should mean. I've enjoyed some of the takes and even indulged in my own imagination.

I keep hearing in different forums about how the women in New Breed (as well as Slinky Thing) are such horrible bitches. In attempt to appreciate Donald's lyrical craft, I have to ask that literature class question, "Is that what's really going on in the songs?" With "New Breed" the only thing the character's girlfriend actually says (second hand) is that the techie whiz really knows his shit. If you look carefully, it's like Slinky Thing Part II. Both songs express the worries and fearful imagination of what could go wrong with his relationship...but "the girl" never says a thing!!!!! It's very Woody Allenesque! That's Donald's psychological brilliance about these songs...the pain is caused not by the squeezes dumping the narrators but by the narrator's own fears and insecurities. Again, I'm just responding to more than a few posts I've seen in different forums where people curse the women in both songs for leaving Donald. Good grief.

===

I'm behind in a lot of things so I'm totally bummed to not get my mitts on Donald-related interviews in Uncut, Keyboard and Bass Player. I think it's too late to get the Uncut issue. I know you can order Keyboard on line. Thanks for keeping us up.

===

Moray Eel posted:

"
1. Didn't really engage in Steely Dan fans in discussions, but occasionally stepped in to posters in their place.

2. Both seemed to have other allegiances ... Zappa/Elton John.

3. Both rejected the preferred threaded format that most posters desire.
"

And Jim Taylor says, "Everyone knows that Jim is a huge Elton John fan."

I don't understand #1. #2. Yeah, I'm a huge fan of several musical acts, to the point that I've been called on to consult on some album releases. But Steely Dan is by far my favorite and the only one that I see as close to perfect, that I rabidly follow. I follow quite a few. I've been to as many Grateful Dead concerts as Steely Dan. Does that mean I have an allegiance to the Dead? I used to occasionally be in a Van Morrison cover band and, off and on for the past 20 years, I've hosted a Van Morrison forum...currently I do along with a couple of friends in Holland....Van-L and Van-Info at FlatHat.net Over a decade ago, his record company asked me to advise them on some re-releases Does that all mean I have a compromised allegiance to Van Morrison? In the case of Elton John, I was a huge fan in the 70s. In the early 90s, I purchased CDs of classic albums like Madman and Tumbleweed and found mastering errors and was quoted in ICE Newsletter--remember ICE? As a result, during the 90s, my input was sought by Elton's producer and his record company on re-releases. I'm credited on a few I advised on and a few I didn't, and not credited on a few that I did advise on. Go figure. So I had a list set up for discussion and I was a royal pain in the ass about the lack of consistency about Elton's work. The list ran from 1992 to about six or seven years ago. I tried spinning it off for some friends a couple of years ago but didn't work out. While Bernie Taupin apparently liked it, Elton John HATED it. Why? Probably because I called into question what I saw as lapses in artistic integrity. Same reason he was at odds with Gus Du dgeon who brought me in for advise. (I still can't believe that.) So, I've been to one Elton John concert in about 7-8 years--a special taping two years ago to which I was invited (not by EJ--I've never met or had contact with him). It was a special show with Leon Russell on the day their new joint album was released. A great album, I might add. I do keep a log of my own posts to the Bluebook. I've mentioned Elton John 14 times in 12 years, always vis a vis someone else's post starting the discussion. In recent years, I've been involved with Leonard Cohen fans, heck all of us are involved with our favorites, aren't we? As if that's special or something or shows compromised allegiance.

So what I bristle at is this use of the word "allegiance" bit because I'm not perfect, but I strive for artistic integrity. The implication is that as a booster and big fan of Steely Dan first in my book, it suggests that I've put other artists ahead of Steely Dan. No way. Maybe Moray Eel and Taylor mean something else but what's next? Is it going to be implied that I have some sort of compromising allegiance to Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, etc?

But back to the Blue, I run threaded forums on other topics--is it OK that I have an allegiance to preserving historic retail architecture to the point that it's part of my profession? I've suggested again and again different forum format's but the culture of this place is such that this what people want! A 20+ year-old script! I might add that as an IT professional, I roll my eyes at the datedness.

I respect that people really loved the so called "yellow book" and hats off to Pat for first finding the script that is the technical basis for this forum. I won't comment on the content of the "yellow" since I was not a mainstream member of that forum, but I will note these differences which served as a basis for accommodating many requests for the formation of the Blue:

I won't ever make fun of you or diss you for buying yet another new re-re-re-...release of any Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker or other SD-connected album.

I will go to SD shows even if am not someone guest, although in recent years I've had to cut back to accomodate my finances. I won't not go to a show because I didn't get a free ticket.

I won't ignore the release of a WB or DF solo album.

I won't tell you that recollecting about a past experience working for Donald and Walter is boring.

I won't tell you that you went to too many shows or that I'm skipping the tour.

I always consider myself perpetually enrolled as a student in Steely Dan University.

While I don't see myself as an expert on Steely Dan, I do consider myself someone who encourages people at large to consider the genius of Steely Dan, more than some band that had some hits in the 70s.

Well I said enough....sorry I didn't have a clever one-liner which would have been infinitely better.

====

It is Dandom's 20th anniversary coming up. I'd love for us to have one big Danfest of some sort where I could meet some people I've never met through the years. Like the Camerons from New Zealand and Toby from the UK and it would be good to see Howard after a 12-year absence. There's a lot of founding members from 1993 that I've never met!

Best wishes to you and yours in the coming year.

P.S. Sorry I didn't proofread this enough :-)

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 19:12:25 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Hotel Norway

S. Stills,
I agree it's a little CSN-ish. And also I recognize that he uses a piece of Eagles' Hotel California for an intro. I think Mr.Gurnsey is a sly dog indeed.

Like the Dean I have mixed feelings about his voice on JOS, which is probably the least impressive cover version of the three - allthough even that one is pretty impressive to me.

Yup Hutch, that's sooo Ted Baker. :o)

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 18:28:06 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

I guess this might be old news but it's new to me. Herington and the Choir. That's not Ted Baker on the piano is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHX0TonZSE8

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 18:24:23 ET
Posted by: S. Stills,

Nicholas Gurney's version of NBN is very CSN!

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 18:21:41 ET
Posted by: MLM, P

The credits for Gaucho include one for Italian translation. No idea if it was for Third World Man or somebody who helped them order from an Italian place for delivery to the studio.

Perhaps this is the guy credited?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_di_Suvero

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 18:15:42 ET
Posted by: T, Avignon, France

Hi Phil from Pau

You were a lucky guy to see Jeff Porcaro on stage with Toto in Montreux.
I’ am always very sad every time somebody speaks about him because he was a great drummer and I love drums. For the first Steely Dan show in Paris Olympia year 2K, I was able to talk with a californian guy who told me he was in high school with him and Jeff was already awesome. Indeed, for various reasons, things can take some time and more than we think. I hope for you (and me, now) that the Toto concert released one day.
The 2009 line up was similar to yours…
I really think, since that year, a Blu Ray would be required to Steely Dan. I even talked with the team after the show in Washington DC 2009. They told me that Donald and Walter don’t care about that for the moment. And for the moment, I'm wrong !

Quel pot d’être à Pau.
T

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 16:41:01 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar, Football Sunday!

Jazz, thanks for linking those Nicholas Gurney covers. You are correct, they are a very big step above the standard SD cover. I have mixed feelings about Gurney's voice (particularly on JOS) but the harmony's are interesting and the quality is there. I find the version of Night By Night hypnotic.


Interesting translation of "E L'era del terzo mondo". I found one site (http://www.freetranslation.com/) that translated it from Italian as "It was of the thrid world" but most agreed with your translation. No need to dissect the exact translation here. In the song it is simply a great sounding lyric. I think the real question I think, is why would a "Ghana Rondo" (I assume that means a rondo sung by those in Ghana) be in Italian? That's just freaking weird!

Funny thing about Italian, though: my two Grandmothers (from different regions of Italy) could barely understand each other. Of course, they spoke mostly dialects and not the official "Italian". Odd thing is, just recently a good friend of mine returned from Bologna after visiting his friend--a professor at a University there. They traveled an hour or two from town to visit a man my friend wanted to meet. The two Italian men, both educated (and one would think both speaking "Italian") had a hard time understanding each other.

Kick off time!

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 15:41:44 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, rather impressed

The same guy (Nicholas Gurney) also plays Night By Night and Jack Of Speed in the same style.

NBN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M88q4vxdl_s

JOS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JmBQkFg-3M

This is way above your average acoustic cover versions. Serious.

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 14:35:45 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Primo Mondo

Nice semi-acoustic cover of Third World Man:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br3WiiCcSxo

And btw, talking about foreign launguage parts in SD songs ... in the last verse of "Third World Man" Donald sings in Italian: "L'era del terzo mondo" which translates to "Era of the third world". Much further from the english song title and lyrics than Baxter's Spanish phrase is from "Only A Fool Would Say That", actually.

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 04:51:49 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

Don't Marlene and Maxine rhyme with Pixeleen? If so, that's English for you: three different spellings for the same pronunciation. Don't get me started, I spent years studying the relationship between spelling and pronunciation... Fascinating stuff for non-native speakers of English like myself. Almost as many exceptions as there are rules!

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 00:42:56 ET
Posted by: Rose Darling, phucks team captain

The Cousin Dupree knockoff comes on TBS at 1am eastern.

http://www.steelydan.com/heyluke.html

http://blog.moviefone.com/2006/07/29/owen-wilson-replies-to-mr-steely-dan/

Date: Sun, January 13, 2013, 00:31:40 ET
Posted by: SDV, half alive

no micro-analysis. simply an observation that the words at the end of the song didn't translate exactly and wondering if the guys realized it or gave a shit at all. fun to think about for a moment or two but no need to dwell on it. that is all.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 21:58:14 ET
Posted by: TarHeelDanFan, Raleigh

Raleigh, NC, that is. . Happy Birthday DF and best regards to Walter and that blue
guitar of his.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 21:46:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Why Am I Not Drinking? That must change NOW!

SDV, you said "I think it sounds perfect as is, and obviously they did too.". That's pretty much my point. I doubt it was an "error". Likely it was spontaneous and they liked it, even if it wasn't a word for word interpretation. So my point is, I don't think it's something they missed, or that slipped by them. While it may have been spontaneous when it was uttered, it was purposefully left there. I'd bet they even checked the translation before releasing it.

Like pronunciation and spelling rules, translations are fairly malleable things. There are any number of instances where there isn't just ONE way to translate something. Idioms, dialects among other things, can lead two perfectly fluent translators to give slightly different results from the same source. I could imagine an English speaker (perhaps with French accent) saying "only a fool would be saying that" with a little condescending tone in his/her voice (apologies to Phil and our other French posters) as a little shot at the end of that tune. I see no reason why someone speaking Spanish (native or otherwise) might not do the same. So, I don't think this is an "imperfection", at all. It's just not what you expected.

I guess what I am getting at is, the micro-analysis (leading to questions of mistakes) or perfectly ordinary things, which fluctuate regularly in the everyday world, seems a bit obsessive. I'm definitely not pointing the figure at you SDV--to an extent we are all guilty (at least most of us) from time to time.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 21:44:23 ET
Posted by: Doc Mu,

Aja is mispronounced because it would have sounded like crap otherwise.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 20:41:36 ET
Posted by: TarHeelDanFan, Raleigh

Please come to Raleigh in 2013.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 19:37:47 ET
Posted by: SDV, feel no pain

well we certainly weren't disturbed by the Spanish line. It's just that since D&W come across as such perfectionists, we simply wondered if they were aware of the imperfection. And if not, would it have bugged them at all. No biggie. I think it sounds perfect as is, and obviously they did too.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 18:46:48 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

Doesn't Marlene (mar-leen) rhyme with Maxine (mak-seen)?

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 17:29:36 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, deeper still

Nicholas,
I had a gut feeling I was on thin ice using/ referring to the aforementioned expression in this context... but chose to assume you'd all get the pun anyway. ;o)
I plead the weed. But then again, only a fool would say that. Giggle, giggle.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 16:50:53 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

Jazzassin - by "deep in the weeds," I meant that we were in the arcane, the esoteric, the margins where only the truly obsessed tread.

That said, Skunk Baxter may or may not have been deep in the weeds, but he was, indeed, deep into weed.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 16:01:29 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, Were You High That Day

I imagine the recording of Baxter practicing his Spanish at the end of Only A Fool was done under influence of one ore more substances (cf our correspondent on Phraxos). You can clearly hear him giggle like only little girls and stoned people do, and his voice doesn't sound quite natural, it sounds like he's in some kind of character for a few seconds. They were probably just flippin' out and having a good time in the studio that day, and kept Baxter's babbling at the end of the song just for fun.
Besides, I suspect they love to keep fans wondering about this and that. It works. We're still discussing this.
Just my two cents.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 15:44:28 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

I, too, hear "Mar-Lynn," not "Marleen." But we are in the weeds, amigos, deep in the weeds.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 15:32:21 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

To our friend from Luxembourg, as a proper name, Marlene is pronounced any damn way the owner of that name chooses. Also, one would not expect an European pronunciation from an American English speaker. And, for the record, I hear "Marlene" just fine in that song--though the next time I listen I promise to pay a bit more attention.

As for the Spanish translation "only a fool would be saying that", I wonder why anyone is disturbed by that. I'm thinking that is exactly what they wanted to say. As an off-hand comment at the end of the song, it has a certain flair. Of course it is possible it is just an imprecise translation.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 14:57:35 ET
Posted by: only a fool spanish,

SDV, what do you mean that you're "surprised Don & Walt let that one slip by"? I don't think either of them speak Spanish.

Jeff Baxter lived in Mexico City for a while, and spoke that line. It's more likely he didn't have enough mastery of the language to use the proper tense, but the spirit of what he said is still cool.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 14:48:38 ET
Posted by: Lutz, SF

Fillers at 2-4, Victor?
Thanks for clearing that up, genius.
Those happen to be favorite songs to other listeners, neither do I believe Don spends 6 years to put 3 fillers on the first half of his new cd.
It takes a pure genius to point that out.
Now please post a link to your stuff, it must be brilliant!

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 12:27:54 ET
Posted by: Aja1, Newton

For several years the sample Bank of America ATM card shown on the walls inside BoA ATM kiosks featured an attractive woman of multiple ethnicities, her name as embossed on the card was Aja. I had mixed feelings about this.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 11:44:57 ET
Posted by: Marlene D., Luxembourg

It is really pronounced mahr-lay-neh and originally comes out of central Europe. So most of America and now especially Donald Fagen says it wrong.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 10:36:07 ET
Posted by: Me , 2

I also haven't been able to hear it as Marlene.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 09:36:02 ET
Posted by: It's all, in the name

Speaking of names, I keep reading "Miss Marlene" but hearing "Miss Marlynn." Maybe I'm mis-hearing - I haven't heard the highest fidelity releases. Regardless, why would anyone consider such a difference (Marlene-Marlynn, Aja-Asia) an "error." That's absurd.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 07:27:38 ET
Posted by: It's , ART

They absitively don't follow strict rules of language and grammar, part of the appeal - why should they, it's poetry, it's art ...... there was no baying mob after e e cummings .... or was there ?

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 02:28:23 ET
Posted by: SDV, sound good to me

BS-

as stated, a woman's first name does not need to follow any "rules" of pronunciation... especially when those rules don't actually exist. Or have I been pronouncing the word "acorn" wrong all these years?


A dear old girlfriend of mine spoke fluent Spanish (it was her first language) and she said the words uttered at the end of "Only A Fool Would Say That" translate to "only a fool would be saying that". We were both surprised Don & Walt let that one slip by...

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 01:50:01 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

"Aja" was the name of a Korean woman who married the brother of a high-school friend of his. Donald said (to paraphrase) that the song is about the serenity one finds in being in a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman.

Date: Sat, January 12, 2013, 01:50:01 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

"Aja" was the name of a Korean woman who married the brother of a high-school friend of his. Donald said (to paraphrase) that the song is about the serenity one finds in being in a quiet relationship with a beautiful woman.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 22:12:29 ET
Posted by: Dave (from acquisitions), Philadelphia

Listening to IGY tonight and focussing on Don's soloing style on the synth parts. Never put this together before even though I consider him a highly underrated soloist (My Rival, Hey 19, Your Gold Teeth, Home at Last, etc.) when he plays a synth patch solo a lot of times it has a sax feel about it like he's trying to emulate what a sax player would play, he rarely plays polyphonically or ventures out of the range of a tenor or soprano sax. This rule doesn't really apply when he's soloing on organ or rhodes. Then of course I remembered that he does in fact play sax so maybe that's his inner jazz sax god coming out. Any thoughts?

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 22:09:57 ET
Posted by: It's only me,

@ The Dean:

Thank you.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 22:08:03 ET
Posted by: It's only me,

@ Brain Strainer:

I'm not even going to begin to explain to you why you've got this spelling/pronunciation thing all wrong.

I'll let someone else, who is kinder and has more time on their hands, do it for me.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 22:07:14 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Brain,

I don't remember the entire story, but I'm fairly sure Don said "Aja" was the name of a woman he knew growing up (someone's wife or girlfriend), and he thought it was very exotic and mysterious. So, Aja is not a mis-spelling of Asia, but rather a proper name. And as I am sure you know, proper names can be pronounced any damn way the person who owns them chooses. So, I believe the woman's name was spelled "Aja" and pronounced as Asia. At least that's the gist of what I recall.

Even if that weren't the case, English doesn't really have the strict pronunciation rules you seem to imply. There are any number of exceptions. And even if Walt and Don decided to make up this spelling and give it that pronunciation, I would simply consider it creative poetic license. That's the leeway great artists get. I throw paint on a canvas and someone yells at me for messing up the canvas. Jackson Pollock does it and he's a freakin' genius.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 21:51:44 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Tonite's Strainer is just a thought question to ponder, as it might have not occurred to anyone else out there. Maybe those out there in the ether have an answer, or maybe DF or WB have previously revealed the answer.

Speaking of "Aja", the spelling of that title does not jibe with its "accepted" pronunciation which we hear as "Asia" on the recording. Aja should be pronounced "ah-zha" like "rajah". Both the "a's" would be short vowels, NOT the long "ay" as in "stay". Vowels are normally short when preceding consonants unless another vowel succeeds it in the same syllable.

This apparent mistake has vexed me for many years, particularly since it came from highly literate, anal guys such as DF and WB who fastidiously research the accuracy of and articulation of lyrics. Even foreign ones.

Had this error been made by one of today's illiterate hip hop artists who bastardize any possible word and it gets out the door through their equally illiterate handlers and record labels it would be tolerable.

Y'all nome sane? Aiiiiight!!!

The next interviewer of DF or WB needs to ask why Aja is mispronounced. And it was a helluva place to fuck it up on the title of the highest selling, and some would say their signature album. Was it an error of omission? OR commission, which cannot, nor should not be ruled out.....

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 21:37:39 ET
Posted by: JungleMusic,

For Don's birthday, besides having added the little news story about Don in the Show Business section, they seem to have taken out the "writings" column in the No Business section of his website. It's always exciting to see some activity on that site, doesn't happen that often, but I like it better when they add stuff to it.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 10:10:48 ET
Posted by: Aja1, Newton

Vic, I don't recall saying that I only like Pop songs. In fact your post points out what is probably more accurate, that ultimately it isn't the poppy songs that I like, and that Memorabilia is more the anomoly than the rule. (although, really, aren't all DF songs Pop songs?)

And to agree with Pete, to call the other songs filler is crazy! If it weren't for my strange obsession with Memorabilia, Good Stuff would be my clear favorite. An exceptional song.

I admit, that in most cases I'm a music over lyrics guy. Typically I'll like a song because of the music then I'll work on understandnig the lyrics. I think Memorabilia, Good Stuff and Planet D'Rhonda are beautiful songs musically. I just also happen to like the lyrics.

But to clarify all my posts, other than Ghetto (which I don't even dislike as much as I did at first), this album is near perfection for me.

I'm off to have a daughter (well, my wife will do the heavy lifting I guess), and despite my attempts, I couldn't convince her to name her Maxine, oh well.

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 09:00:29 ET
Posted by: DYLYNFAN, HARRISBURG PA

While I know many of you hate this, I am going to do it anyway, so
lighten up. Plus I really enjoy reading others on the Blue list's.
So here goes: Miss Marlene
Good Stuff
Planet D'Rhonda
Memorabilia
New Breed
Slinky Thing
INTSWY
Ghetto
WIMH
What a great F'CKN album!!!!!!!

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 08:50:33 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

That WSJ article made it to Don's website...

http://donaldfagen.com/news.php

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 05:36:16 ET
Posted by: Phil, Pau

Hi T from Avignon, talking about Claude Nobs, I went to Montreux in 1991 to see Toto, it was their last concert with Jeff Porcaro sadly. At the end of the show, a guy from the Montreux staff asked me if I could take the time to answer a few questions, one of them being "what's your dream for a concert here?". My answer was Steely Dan with an all star cast,Jeff Porcaro and Purdie on drums,Michael McDonald on backing vocals, can't remember who else I mentionned, Sanborn, Tom Scott or the Brecker brothers I suppose. The show you attended was probably brillant but I'm not sure it will be issued one day, I'm still waiting for an official release of the TOTO concert , there are bootlegs floating around but the quality is poor.
let's hope somebody will take mr Nobs place, not an easy task, it takes passion, talent and the man had a lot.
Bonne journée à Avignon
Philippe

Date: Fri, January 11, 2013, 04:23:37 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Victor. Good Stuff and Planet Drhonda fillers ?!! Never, Good Stuff is probably my favourite track on the album !!

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 23:15:19 ET
Posted by: Victor E.,

Aja1 listed:

"-My current rank of favorites:

Memorabilia
Good Stuff
New Breed
Planet D'Rhonda
Slinky Thing
Miss Marlene
INTSWY
WIMH
Ghetto"

Why are the good pop songs at the bottom at number 5 to 8? These are the most poppy songs on Sunken Condos and you said that you like pop. You posted in November that Memorabilia was a "spectacular pop tune" which to be consistent makes sense to be number 1. You have got filler at 2 to 4, with Ghetto on the very bottom where it belongs.

Would you care to explain?

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 22:53:46 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

This 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco business has me by the tail and won't let go (mixed-metaphor alert). Where else would I have ever heard about them except on the Blue. That's why one leaves the Blue at one's peril - things will be missed. Good things.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 19:57:29 ET
Posted by: T, Avignon, France

Very sad news.


Claude Nobs, the Montreux jazz festival’s creator died on January 10, 2013.
http://www.lematin.ch/loisirs/claude-nobs-decede/story/14848295


I still remember him on stage talking between Donald and Walter :
“I'm very happy to get them tonight for the first time in Montreux.”
“I was waiting this since a long time.”

And Donald said simply :
“Thanks to Claude Nobs…”




In remenbrance, this is my bluebook post of Montreux 2009 :

july 4, 2009
Montreux setlist :

Teenie's Blues

Reelin In The Years (new version)
Time Out of Mind
Show Biz Kids
Two Against Nature
Black Friday
Aja
Hey 19
Parker's Band
Babylon Sisters
Glamour Profession
Daddy Don't Live
Love is Like an Itchin In My Heart + intros
Josie
Peg

Encores:
Kid Charlemagne

Last Tango in Paris


The show was filmed like all the performances at Montreux Jazz Festival.
I found the whole band very concentrated.
The result was really beautiful on the two screens of the stage.
My feeling is that an official video could be a possibility in the future.
But it’s just my feeling…




Reposez en paix, Monsieur Claude Nobs.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 18:45:50 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

Wall St. Journal on Donald's birthday ..

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578196090924711724.html?KEYWORDS=donald+fagen

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 18:07:49 ET
Posted by: Greg M, wp ny

<<<-Does Don put three "W's" in "Brewery" in Good Stuff? "Trucked in from a Bwewewy in east Paterson.">>

hahahahahahaha =)

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 18:06:06 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/jimmy-herring-wayne-krantz-and-michael-landau-join-forces-as-the-ringers/150239

Looks nice. Landau, Herring, Krantz, Mbappe and Carlock on tour. A dream fusion guitarfest.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 17:40:24 ET
Posted by: Zack, London

I want to thank this very powerful special spell caster for bringing back my wife to me within 72hours.
A friend told me to contact him that you have work for her and her friends too.
I believed him and never doubted him and he has done it for me.
My wife is home and very are even more than happy.
You can email him your problems and he will treat it for you.
His email address is shrineforsolution@gmail.com
His mobile number is +2348052236135.
I am Zack,USA.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 17:34:49 ET
Posted by: Vlad, Minsk

Vlad says Moderate Moe you are in the rights. Too much of the Steely Dan is dangerous, except for what Vlad is says there is no such things as too much Steely Dan. So there is no dangerous, yes?

Vlad has US friend that says anythings worth the doing is worth the overdoings.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 14:46:29 ET
Posted by: JT Combs, London

For those of you that enjoyed The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco - They have a new tune available on Soundcloud....

Is this the only song with the word sabbatical in?

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 13:39:44 ET
Posted by: moray eel, h

Happy birthday, DF! Smoke if you got 'em.

m.e.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 11:40:43 ET
Posted by: Stu, F

Happy Birthday DF. To quote Jackson Browne, in '65 he was 17. Lonnie was the kingpin.

Move forward 48 years (which probably went by as quickly as Lonnie's 48 hours), and he IS 65.

Marlene is now queenpin, at 17.

Sorry, I do this to take a break from my data crunching job and can't quite turn off the analysis.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 09:20:27 ET
Posted by: Aja1, Newton

After a 3 week hiatus from SC, I listened to it in full this morning. And wanted to jot down these "new" thoughts:

-Herington really was missed on Letterman. Jon and Wayne are both so good, but so different. Where Wayne plays with an almost cold precision to his jazzy licks, Jon has a warmth from his bluesy leanings that is necessary to fully enjoy WIMH. That Green Street clip someone posted from the '96 tour was a perfect example of where Wayne is the right fit.

-My current rank of favorites:
Memorabilia
Good Stuff
New Breed
Planet D'Rhonda
Slinky Thing
Miss Marlene
INTSWY
WIMH
Ghetto

-In New Breed, he is confused by the type of guy she has taken to. Describing him as an "as if" type of dude compared to his "flat-line" attitude. Wouldn't you say those describe similar types?

-Does Don put three "W's" in "Brewery" in Good Stuff? "Trucked in from a Bwewewy in east Paterson."

-While I was interested in the Atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll before Memorabilia, the song has brought it full circle. So I hunted down a print of the Cross Spikes Club painting (Aurthur Beaumont) from Bikini Atoll. If you haven't seen it, you might say it is a picture of some laughing Navy types.

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 05:24:52 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Happy Birthday Donald Fagen ! A true legend and songwriting genius and one half of America's greatest band. From all your fans in the UK ( many thousands ).

Date: Thurs, January 10, 2013, 02:09:15 ET
Posted by: steelydirector, East on I-10

Not quite what another Don sang about...it wasn't a Deadhead sticker, nor was it a Cadillac. But out on the road today I saw a Steely Dan sticker on a Volkswagen Beetle. It said "got steely dan?", in the style of the "got milk?" ad campaign. Good to know some of "the neighbors are listening".

Date: Thursday, January 10, 2013,  ET
Posted by: The Loyal Dandom, MacArthur Park

Happy Birthday, Donald Fagen!

******
|||||
*********
*~~~~~~~*
* *
*****************
* *
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
* *

*****************
-------------------------------

[ Cake courtesy of the late and very great Boston Rag & hoops ]

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 22:24:15 ET
Posted by: there are about nine different types of Coke and there are also about nine different Tower Theaters,

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 18:57:47 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. Still Drinkin'

M-Moe. I agreed with SDV--who originally posted the article link--but also responded to to Sid, saying it was his own fault if he clicked the ink.

Chastised SDV (knowingly) and also agreed with him (one one thing).

Got it now?

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 18:33:06 ET
Posted by: moderate moe,

Dean does not realize he just insulted SDV who originally posted the coke link. Sid actually said posting it was a waste of time.

Anything in excess or extreme is dangerous. Including too much Steely Dan.

Moderation man, moderation.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 17:27:12 ET
Posted by: SDV, zoomin'

I remember someone on here saying they grabbed Donald's can of Diet Coke as a souvenir and I'm pretty sure he at least went through a Diet phase. I kind of thought it was common knowledge of sorts that he drank it. Then he said recently in some interview that he suffers from depression that he takes medication for so I thought a funny connection was made.

I'm not really obsessed with the minutiae of Donald's life but I do hope he sticks with regular Coke. That diet shit is poison.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 17:11:45 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Looks like a regular Coke can to me:

http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/donald_fagen_5151142

Even if it wasn't, how would some horrible research, that can't even draw a conclusion, be relevant to Steely Dan? If Don wears boxer briefs is anything about boxer briefs suddenly Dangential? Please.

I'd like to think Dan fans are a bit above the kind of strange celebrity garbage you find on many fan sites--I'd like to think that.

But you are right, SDV, we only have ourselves to blame if we waste our time clicking on these kinds of links.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 15:37:42 ET
Posted by: JJ, X

You can spot a can of regular Coke a mile away. I've never seen him drink anything but regular. I remember at Roseland when they prepped his Fender Rhodes with a can. I practically could have reached out and taken it.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 13:31:38 ET
Posted by: SDV, up on the hill

Don's a DietCoke man far as I know.

Sid- the gist of that was in the link itself. If you actually took the time to copy/paste and go read it, that's on you my friend.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 12:03:05 ET
Posted by: sid,

SDV - plesae stop wasting my time with those stupid links.

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 11:07:54 ET
Posted by: Teddy, KGB

Don doesn't drink diet soda. Coke. The Real Thing.

But on the subject, if you ever decide to drive like a fool out to Hackensack, do yourself a favor and stop in here for a few burgers.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9RRsUbDV0U

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 09:18:42 ET
Posted by: it's, like this

Hoops...would you care to explain?

Date: Wed, January 09, 2013, 02:30:40 ET
Posted by: SDV, drinkin his dinner

something for Donald to think about...?

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/08/16417285-drinking-diet-soda-linked-to-depression?lite=

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 23:21:11 ET
Posted by: BTW,

Cat Russell was on Bowie's LAST studio album. I wonder if she's on the new Bowie.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 23:20:20 ET
Posted by: BTW,

Cat Russell was on Bowie's studio album. I wonder if she's on the new Bowie.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 22:35:01 ET
Posted by: walt on vox,

It is fun to hear Walt do some songs, but not Haitian Divorce. That is like having Walt sing Deacon Blues or Black Cow. Those are quintessential Donald songs.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 21:00:33 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Brain, I'm with you on wanting a bit more Walter vocals--at least in concert. I'd like this for several reasons. It would allow the band to play a few songs Don would rather not sing--this helps increase the songs on the setlist. It gives Don a much needed vocal break. Don's voice gets pretty tore up over the course of a tour. And I admit, I actually like the way Walt sounds on some songs. But maybe the biggest reason is, it seems to keep Walt a bit more involved. This past tour (for whatever reasons) Walt seemed to lay back on the stage, in the mix and wasn't as active instrumentally either. I'm thinking (unless there is some physical issue) having him sing a song or two would allow him--or force him--to become a bit more involved. The way he is when the band is really on fire.

As for Bowie...the new song is OK in a laid-back cocktail song kind of way. But I have to admit I have never been a fan of DB. These guys--well, they aren't my kind of guys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 20:23:36 ET
Posted by: Bob,

I see why you posted that. Bowie's wiggly little head reminds me of Donald in Snowbound. Do you think Bowie stole from the creator of Donald's Snowbound Video? Or did Donald's video person take a time travel ship twenty years ahead and copy Bowie. (Yes, the answer is neither.)

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 20:22:44 ET
Posted by: David Bowie mentioned here at least twice today here,

even before the news flash

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 19:47:05 ET
Posted by: Thin White Duke, Berlin

...and seemingly from both nowhere and everywhere all at once,
David Bowie has returned. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOyDTy9DtHQ
Happy 66th btw. (www.davidbowie.com)
Life is good.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 15:54:51 ET
Posted by: The X Factor, Minneapolis

Found this on Youtube today: full Steely Dan concert from 4/30/74-

http://youtu.be/nS9hj3S2h4Q

Apologies if this has been posted a billion times before.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 14:20:21 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

"Never thought I would say this and it COULD cause a Blue outrage, but Steely Dan, if it ever gets back together could add a whole other dimension to the repertoire by making more use of the deeper Walt voc"

This was the last sentence I wrote and the electrical power was cut off by a lightning bolt that came out of nowhere from a cloudless sky as I was about to finish it! Could have been be some anti-Walt vocal sentiment up there in the heavens. No?

I am pedaling my backup generator to finish the thought.

More use of the deeper Walt vocals on the next Dan album. Slang of Ages rates as a major favourite as that experiment worked very well on EMG.

To the contrary of that lightning bolt, there is lots of love for Walt's vocals on the Blue today.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 13:55:20 ET
Posted by: SDV, killer moonlight

and our man hoops gets a shout-out from Walt at the end of this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUHHRx0l9IA

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 13:46:59 ET
Posted by: SDV, en-Gorged

Walt sounds pretty great on Movies too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yluqvI4EvKY

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 12:46:07 ET
Posted by: Search, k

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/the-donald-of-the-dan/article_edd79c10-6fda-5046-8fbb-8e2edcd50726.html

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 12:19:32 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

I would say that DF is basically a TENOR, who was heavily influenced by, and transforms his voice very well to the whiny and nasal Dylanesque tone on certain songs as required. He can also go contralto or higher like when his balls "rumble" on Miss Marlene and as well on Brite Nitegown. He has never demonstrated much in the lower registers.

Walt, I would say is a BARITONE, or maybe counter-bass, with a deeper, richer timbre. He is fairly monotone, and his high notes, (if you will) just barely overlap DF's lowest notes that he is capable of.

Between the two of them they cover a pretty wide vocal range. Never thought I would say this and it COULD cause a Blue outrage, but Steely Dan, if it ever gets back together could add a whole other dimension to the repertoire by making more use of the deeper Walt voc

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 10:35:50 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Just a random tidbit here:

Walked into a bar/restaurant for lunch yesterday. Never been there before--wasn't sure if I'd like the joint. Van Morrison was playing on the house system as I walked in, followed by Steely Dan. Good start! For the most part the music was high-end/tastefull Classic Rock. Some I like some I can do without, but no real junk.

Anyway, the place was OK--food was fine, not great, far from bad. I might go back once in awhile just to avoid the onslaught of terrible garbage I have to endure in most places.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 10:30:34 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Actually, I get a bit of a Dylan vibe from Walt's vocals on Cruiser. Of course the vocals of a famous BS were also compared to Dylan at one time.

It's a matter of taste, of course. But to me, the Gorge versions of Midnight Cruiser and Cash Only Island have really brightened my week. A good infusion of "new" Dan--at least new to me.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 09:51:15 ET
Posted by: Just sayin', Q

There are many B.S's of rock & roll.

A legendary one you say... I don't think Walt sounds much like Billy Squier at all.

Daryl Hall proudly proclaimed himself the best pop singer in the business in the days when H & O were manufacturing hits.

Walt's vocals in that video are an improvement over others I've heard from the previous month of that tour. Check out Manassass.

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 08:55:46 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

For the most part I endeavour to practice "internet neutrality" when it comes to analysis of DF/Dan/Walt Discography. But that live rendition of Midnite Cruiser kicks ASS. So to speak. I am not particularly a fan of Walt's vocals, but I couldn't turn the song off. His vocals were good and the guitar work gave it lots of punch. It was not a "skip over" (vinyl, CDs etc), a "station changer" or, in the realm of downloads, in this case a "mouse X clicker". It is all in what you like.


Even though solo DF is stellar, it is Walt and his direction that adds the steel to that rendition and to Steely Dan songs in general. And even if it is not Walt who is playing, I think he has a strong say-so with how the session guitarists are used on a Steely Dan record which distinctly sets it apart from solo DF.

Vocally, Walt does well when he has the right song, he can surprise you as he does on this rendition of Cruiser. He seems best as a "narrator" type singer, like Johnny Cash. DF is a vocal chameleon, almost like an impressionist. On SC, DF assumes a distinctly different vocal identity for each of the nine songs to match the theme. He expertly loops his own voice and harmonizes with the background vocals as needed. Having said that, neither of these guys has the natural or trained pipes of, say, a Michael McDonald or a Darryl Hall.

Walt's vocal resemblance on that rendition of Midnite Cruiser? Hadn't thought of it, but Dave Bowie, for sure, especially when Walt transitions his tone. For myself, Walt sounded like a legendary artist, whom I AM neutral about, but who shares the same initials as myself....

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 06:06:40 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

More DF Uncut excerpts (thanks Chris-nh for your thanks, I just hope others are also reading and enjoying this, it's quite hard work typing all this stuff. And thanks for your listening suggestions, that guy Louie Cole was quite a find).
Re Ageing: Q: "Why the title "Sunken Condos"?" DF: "None of the individual songs had a title that was appropriate so I came up with that after the fact. I thought it worked on different levels. An economic level, certainly. Sociological. And I thought as a metaphor for my current phase of life, it was appropriate." Q: "How?" DF: "Because I'm 64. It's a metaphor for broken dreams, in a way. Although a lot of things have worked out for me, obviously. There's a Debussy piece called "Sunken Cathedral", so I just updated that".
Q: "Do things get better as you age or do they get worse? When you released "Morph" you said you were dealing with the end of life. Was something specific making you feel that way?" DF: "No, I was just being realistic. Although I've been married for twenty years, there's a thing where I'll see a good-looking waitress in her twenties, a skinny girl with a black apron on, and know how out of the running I am. It's a realisation of how invisible I am. Not that I was ever very lucky in that regard, but just knowing how invisible I am, to me, that's one of the worst things about ageing. It's like that Woody Allen line about the death of hope. You always figure you got a shot. Then all of a sudden you don't. This is all in my head, of course."
Q: "You're one of the few artists who actually addresses the subject of ageing." DF: "I've read all Philip Roth's books and I can't get away from it. Yeah."
(There was a recent Wall Street Journal article that compares (favorably) DF vs the Rolling Stones regarding ageing, including examples of lyrics -the link is somewhere below-, and, interestingly, this is what DF himself has to say about the "ever so youthful" RS:)
Q: "You said you go see the Stones and they're still acting like adolescents, prancing around. Is that a bad thing?" DF: "No, no. I love it. They're great. Mick Jagger puts himself to the wringer to do that. I saw him perform at one of these R'n'R Hall of Fame things. I saw him before he went on and he looked like a deflated balloon or something. Then when it came time for him to perform he immediately became 22 years old. It looked supernatural, the way that he transformed. It was one of these terrible things that they used to do at these events, where they had twelve bass players on the stage, and the band was just a mess. But when he started singing, it sounded like a band all of a sudden. He forced them to become a band because of his phrasing and his body language. Then at the end, he went off the side of the stage and I saw him collapse back into this deflated balloon. It was unbelievable, all these wrinkles suddenly reappeared in his face. I was really impressed that he could do that."
Q: "Is ageing in this business easier for people like you and Walter, who were seen as a cerebral, snarky band?" DF: "Walter and I always were, for better or worse, exactly that. Coming out of the Beat era with Ginsberg and Norman Mailer, I think for whatever reason it would have been impossible to masquerade as something we're not. So I think we're just more honest about everything. Even this."

Date: Tues, January 08, 2013, 04:22:55 ET
Posted by: amelia, ENGLAND

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Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 22:05:24 ET
Posted by: SDV, uptown

Krantz and Ambrose especially really kicked the shows into high gear in '96. They were both just on fire! I know a lot of people found Krantz a little over-the-top but I love it. He's definitely toned down his playing since then. I still like what I hear, but I wish he'd been in "shred mode" a little more on Letterman.

I think Art Crimes is my favorite tour, and I'm LOVING this Gorge soundboard. After listening to the Manassas show at least 1000 times, it's so great to hear another show of equal sound quality. The Black Cows are so different from eachother, thanks to Ambrose and Beasley.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 21:42:48 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

These Gorge songs are pretty exciting. I mean, I've got a stack but I don't have this.

Tightest version I've heard of this one. Krantz just killing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRtJB2fvfhI

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 20:58:49 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, still unseen

Different strokes folks. I love the arrangement on the '96 Midnight Cruiser, especially the solo section with Walt n Wayne trading off. Great dynamics. I'm a huge fan of the 90s rewrites of things like Reelin, Rikki, Movies, etc. Wish they were still doing 'em like that.

thanks for the Cash Only lyrics. I was pretty close. Figured out the house phone line right after I posted... so mid-90s! Sue Ann McCaffery? Don't think I'd have ever guessed that.

It's cool to see how the unreleased tunes got recycled a bit and turned into other things. A line here a theme there. Parts of Cash Only ended up in Negative Girl and Green Book i suppose.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 20:19:34 ET
Posted by: midnight cruiser,

The rearranged chords and arrangement ain't so good on this live version.
Is Walt channeling Willie Nelson?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 20:15:25 ET
Posted by: Jives, Glasgow

@Brain Strainer.

Gotta disagree i'm afraid.Much as i love Walter his pitching here is somewhat,umm,idiosyncratic shall we say?

The band is sweet though :.)

For some strange reason i heard a touch of Bowie in there though.

How wrong can this poster get?...lol

cheers.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 20:13:30 ET
Posted by: better than studio version?,

Brain Strainer, are you sure you want to trash your reputation over Midnight Cruiser live? The studio version is classic and cold.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 20:08:12 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

Gotta disagree. This is BETTER than the original studio record.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=R6ZjN0H0XgA

Better yet, with what legendary artist would you say he resembles vocally, at least on this tune?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 18:49:48 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

To SS Thanks for the comment about Canineteen. I knew it was corny to say the least but it just came out of my stupid head so I wrote it down. I guess Steely by itself is indeed a great dog name if its a male. Hows about Dilldog???? OK ,,,I'll stop

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 18:08:39 ET
Posted by: cash only lyrics,

Sue Ann is zoomin'… slow Friday night
she bops down to pheromone city where the vibe is right
Double-clicks the icon, and waits for juice, salt spray hits,
she's thinkin' well does anybody have a right to feel this loose?

Crazy beaches, killer moonlight
Cash Only Island, 'cause it's your lucky night
let's take a hayride, great hall of fun
Sue Ann McCaffery… let Telly show you what you've won!

It's a tiki party, in the bison room
the band sings Wooly Bully how I love that tune
Don't forget Telly, you tell yourself no way
2 or 3 double margas and the big jerk starts to look ok

Crazy beaches, killer moonlight
Cash Only Island, 'cause it's your lucky night
let's take a hayride, great hall of fun
Sue Ann McCaffery… let Telly show you what you've won!

Night is quiet, a good rain comes
Can't you hear the distant thumping of the Cash Only Island drum?
Swell is rising, the lava starts to flow
Pick up the house phone honey, and hold for mo', hold for mo'

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 16:58:20 ET
Posted by: toni,

Oh sorry i guess i mixed the two guys up. My fault. I always think Fagen is the best one two sing the Dan songs he just got that special something however i would sometimes like him to be a bit more careful because with growing age he tends to sing of key. Why not take a step back and let the girls sing the high tunes? In my opinion Becker always tries to hard he always tries to be melodic which he undoubtedly can not be. It would be great if he handled the vocals more like on his albums. As i already said i love his singing on CM its really cool and laid back i always wonder why he does not achieve that on tour. By the way whats your favorite track from CM? Mine is Sombodys Saturday Night

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 16:43:43 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, somewhere the same

Walter's not a great singer, he's the first to admit it. He is very expressive however, which is more than you can say for a lot of folks. I like the '96 take on Midnight Cruiser, but I remember my old sweetheart couldn't bear to listen to it and she LOVED Steely Dan.

I really love the way Walt & Don duetted on Everyone's Gone To The Movies that same tour. Very cool and the horn chart kicks ass. Walter sang more backups on that tour as well. You can hear him pretty prominently on Rikki and Cash Only Island among others.

Speaking of Cash Only Island... Dean I agree. I never could get into it because the only version I ever heard was horrible sound quality. Now it's my new favorite Dan tune.

here's what I got for lyrics. someone help!

CASH ONLY ISLAND

Sue Ann is zoomin'… slow Friday night
she bops down to pheromone city where the vibe is right
Double-clicks the icon, awaits the juice, salt spray hits,
she's thinkin' well does anybody have a right to feel this loose?

Crazy beaches, killer moonlight
Cash Only Island, 'cause it's a lucky night
let's take a hayride, great haul of fun
Sue Ann it can't be… let Janis show you what you've won!

It's a tiki party, in the bison room
the band sings Wooly Bully how I love that tune
??? ??? you tell yourself no way
2 or 3 double margas and the big jerk starts to look ok

Crazy beaches, killer moonlight
Cash Only Island, 'cause it's a lucky night
let's take a hayride, great haul of fun
Sue Ann it can't be… let Janis show you what you've won!

Night is quiet, a good rain comes
Can't you hear the distant thumping of the Cash Only Island drum?
Swell is rising, the lava starts to flow
Pick up ??? ???

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 15:47:02 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Heading to the Manatee Bar

Toni.

#1. When did David Palmer sing Midnight Cruiser? Jim Hodder sang it on Can't Buy a Thrill.

#2. I absolutely LOVE the Becker version, in total. The vocals are raw, to be sure, but are just awesome with the backup singers. The arrangement and instrumentation are out of this world. And to be honest, I like what Walter does with it vocally. It's a great song for him to sing and I wish he did it more often in concert.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 15:11:02 ET
Posted by: Greg M, white plains ny

Love this msg board, but the old blue color was a bit easier on the eyes.

New Carlock newsletter is out. Lots of Krantz and Oz Noy dates.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 13:23:24 ET
Posted by: Abe, U

Where's there a David Palmer version of this song I can hear for comparison?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 12:35:05 ET
Posted by: toni,

WARNING DO NOT WATCH IF YOU BELIVE STEELY DAN IS PERFECT

Haha look what I found the worst Steely Dan track ever. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=R6ZjN0H0XgA
I do not like this tune anyway, but Walter singing it is even more horrible than David Palmers. Nothing against Walter he is ok on Haitian divorce or Monkey in your soul and I like his singing on Circus Money quite a lot but when he realy tries to sing its really horrible. I like his "speech singing" a lot more than his real singing.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 12:08:26 ET
Posted by: Josh L,

Did you play trumpet on It Only Takes a Minute?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 11:53:54 ET
Posted by: amateurs,

So just to get the definition straight, when Donald muffs a note or forgets a lyric, or when Walter misses a chord change during a solo, those are amateur mistakes along the lines of Jimmy V rushing a sixteenth note figure in a live TV performance?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 11:53:48 ET
Posted by: there are about nine Tower theaters,

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 10:34:24 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Shark, Thanks for the Cash Only Island link. I have never heard that recording and until now was never that crazy about the tune (as I have only heard low quality, spare versions). But WOW that was a game changer for me. Extremely well done, great arrangement and with all the accoutrements.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 10:31:22 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Fan o Dan -

Trumpet and keyboards.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 10:30:53 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

near the famous TOWER Theater

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 10:29:28 ET
Posted by: Steely Jacques, Paris

La Tour Eiffel

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 10:14:13 ET
Posted by: Abbie,

Thanks for the heads up.

BTW, which tower are you near, Sears, Trump?

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 09:19:21 ET
Posted by: steelydoc, near the Tower

the film "Gaslight" is on Turner Classic Movies this morning at 930AM.....

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 04:08:37 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

Bikeman, Canineteen is really funny.

Easily shortened to 'K.'

It's not my dog, but if there were a vote, that's where I'd put mine.

Date: Mon, January 07, 2013, 03:35:43 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, let's take a hayride

forgive me if this is old news but there's a killer-sounding version of Cash Only Island up on youtube, from the '96 tour. Anyone know all the words?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6bgD9Ve7io

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 18:39:01 ET
Posted by: Fan o Dan,

Brutus

I agree regarding the Lisa Loeb cover, amateur mistake. What instrument do you play?

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 15:58:00 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

Last weekend on Sirius on the "Deep Tracks" channel, the announcer said "...and up next the Dan of Steel and they have a tour planned for 2013..and here is "Haitian Divorce".
I do enjoy "Deep Tracks", but spend most of my team listening to Howard (Stern) when I'm driving.
"Steely Dan" comes up every now and then on the show mostly because Howard busts Gary's (ol' Baby Booey himself) balls about being obsessed with Steely Dan. Great show, great show !!!

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 15:04:14 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

Dog name? Canineteen?

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 14:01:14 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

So BS is a frat guy?

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 13:22:07 ET
Posted by: No, surprise !

Ha Ha - no-one that anal was ever gonna have a 'way with the ladies', right ?

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 12:13:04 ET
Posted by: Maher, mmm

"a dumb but likeable bitch."

That's your Brain Strainer, boys.

Date: Sun, January 06, 2013, 00:31:35 ET
Posted by: Kasey, K

The Cashbox chart positions could be bought. There was even a murder case surrounding it.

http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/with-a-bullet/Content?oid=1187405

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 23:42:24 ET
Posted by: toni,

@fagenism
Thanks for the interview!
@ Michael
Fagen once said that he always thought Walter was better at taking time of.

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 23:37:49 ET
Posted by: prof.Dan, at memorobilia U.

re- Billboard chart positions for Steely Dan/Fagen albums


Billboard has a long history of underplacing Steely related items....

Can't Buy A Thrill #17 on Billboard ....#7 on Record World
Show biz Kids #61 Billboard #31 on Cashbox
Peg #11 Billboard # 8 cashbox

...for Fagen.....IGY wasn;t even a Top 20 hit on Billboard...but hit #5 on many radio charts...
Kamakiriad hit #3 on Cashbox.....#10 on Billboard....

I gave up on Billboard for good when 'Personal Jesus' by Depeche Mode was certified Gold...as a cd single circa 1991...but never went above #30 on the Hot 100....i found out later that it was actually the top selling single in the US for 3 weeks.....so no US #1 for Mode....

of course Billboard also saw fit to put Macarena at #1 for 16 WEEEKSSSSSS! in 1996....rest my case

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 21:05:05 ET
Posted by: Brain Strainer,

"Steely Dan, HE was on Sirius XM Radio yesterday"

So I was told by a neighbor friend. She could not remember which channel since she is an annoying channel surfer as well as being a dumb but likeable bitch. She usually listens to Spectrum, Classic Rewind and The Bridge so it was probably one of those channels.

From what I could drag out of her, DF was interviewed. I believe they played two or three cuts off of SC. She mentioned that "Steely Dan" "he" has put out a new album that "crystallizes" what is going on in his life now". I believe what she heard was stated by DF what characterizes SC as being in contrast to what was put forth in the Fagen Trilogy. She could not be making this stuff up.

What is important here is that SC, and this corresponds to what PETE EVANS of the UK has been reporting, is still getting attention and quite possibly is gaining traction. I hadn't heard any of the SC tunes before being told this, but then again, I don't spend many hours per day listening to Sirius XM it is mostly when I am driving.

So stay tuned, so to speak...

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 13:48:17 ET
Posted by: Jezzoh, Manchester UK

Puppy name? Morph the dog!

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 10:54:24 ET
Posted by: Michael,

I dig the new, brighter BG color.

What's Donald been up to lately, besides interviews? Has Walter become a hermit or something?

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 10:45:43 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Thanks, fagenism.

I remember this interview--you posted it some time back. I had forgotten. Once again, great job and thanks for the effort. Thanks to JH, too.

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 10:19:07 ET
Posted by: fagenism, -

Greg/Dean:

Sorry about that, here is a proper link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/78948039/sunken_condos_herington.pdf

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 09:23:33 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

fagenism,

I get an error at your dropbox link (and I am actually signed in).

I love SS's "Kruger" suggestion. I used to have a cat named "Fagen". A little obvious, I know.

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 05:51:36 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

Sure, Fagenism.

Kruger, as in Dr. Warren Kruger.

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 05:23:14 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

As I mentioned the other day, SC currently 38 and 40 on Amazon yet nowhere to be seen in either the Billboard 200 or UK 100. Wierd !Anyone know why ? I guess they don't use Amazon ! SC getting great airplay now in the UK on radio 2. I reckon it's down to me and my protests in October ! Can I have some commission please Don !!

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 05:08:59 ET
Posted by: fagenism, -

Greg:

Herington interview:

https://dl-web.dropbox.com/get/Public/sunken_condos_herington.pdf?w=e0e23aa7

There was very little interest in a proper AMA type interview, which is why that never happened.

*

Ideas for a Dan infused puppy name, anyone?

Date: Sat, January 05, 2013, 03:03:01 ET
Posted by: oh brutus,

Brutus, you ask me to *refrain from making lame and ignorant comments* about your musical experiences. As it happens, you are not the only one here with a touring/studio/sight-reading history. So no need to preempt 'cuz it's all respect for the players, one of whom I used to be (but Chicago based, late '70s/early '80s, not NYC).

I was just highly amused by your ranting and attack on Jimmy. I thought we were seeing a good thing - an artist covering a Steely tune live with a studio band, and seeing the guys read the charts down live, errors and all. I enjoyed it a lot. Jimmy rushed the figure as you said, La Bamba pissed himself on the into 'bone part, and the horn arrangement wasn't great. So what. They were up there doing it for real and it was cool. So I found your comments *lame* and your lack of respect *ignorant*. I guess we're even.

And thanks for the Kahn links. Good stuff there.

And you can back off Lurker. Internet intimidation is boring. But I'll buy you a beer if you're ever in my neighborhood.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 23:07:12 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, up on the hill

What is jazz about Dirty Work? try the horn chart for starters. And a solo by the great Jerome Richardson. Same guy they used on Parker's Band. look him up.

What is straight-forward country about Brooklyn... the steel guitar? the song dates back several years and can be found on the old demo tapes. It's wasn't country then and the fact that Skunk added pedal steel didn't suddenly make it so.

Dallas, With a Gun, and Pearl of the Quarter would have to be the most "country" Dan tunes, while Cousin Dupree is simply a "rural narrative".

And let's not forget Donald's love of Hee-Haw and Buck Owens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Iu44_pvOSI

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 21:14:23 ET
Posted by: Jeanine,

To Brutus

I am interested about Tavares and anything you know about them. They were Caribbean or South African, not from the US. Did you play guitar? They used lots of strings, violins, flutes and horns. Thank you.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:37:44 ET
Posted by: Do you remember, or did they tell you to forget?,

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:28:59 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Sorry, here's the link:

http://www.stevekhan.com/korner1.htm

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:27:47 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

For those of you who are interested, here's a link to Steve K.'s Solo and Analysis Page:

http://www.stevekhan.com/howhigh1.htm

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:26:15 ET
Posted by: Don't Take Away The Music,

@Brutus Charisma

Tell us about TAVARES. I was way into them back in the day,

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:19:00 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Oh Brutus -

I will not condemn J. Vivino as a fine guitar player. That said, I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure he's not a solid sight-reader/reader. By this I mean if I place an actual NON-CHORD, strictly single-line melody w/ rhythm part in front of him (like a trumpet, sax or 'bone player's part) that was of advanced difficulty he'd struggle with it. Larry Carlton, Steve Khan, Jay Graydon, etal, mainly studio musicians (which means they can read fly-shit w/ astounding accuracy AT FIRST GLANCE (aka sight-reading), would never rush that rhythmic figure or similar double-time feel figures.

Believe me, even notated funk rhythms are a bitch to play accurately, relaxedly and in the slot/pocket. I've played in a few touring bands (The Ice Capades, B&B Circus, The Temptations and Tavares, etc.) where musicians have to genre-flex/bend like crazy (esp. in The Ice Capades and, yes, even moreso in the The B&B Circus Band. *OH BRUTUS please refrain from making lame and ignorant comments about the B&B Circus music. Playing that show accurately and CONSISTENTLY was a bitch for even the NYC guys.)

Personally I have great respect for a player like Larry C. and Steve K. who are terrific readers. Please visit Steve K.'s wesite for some amazingly accurate solo transcriptions to see how this guy can read/notate his ass off.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 20:14:03 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

Mr. Urfe,

Thanks for that great WSJ article. It was spot on, although I admit I can still listen to CSN a bit--of all the music of that era I'm not quite sure why he picked them.

I had to pass it along to many SD loving friends.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 19:53:50 ET
Posted by: Snakehips,

Sorry, it was Hey _________.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 19:50:32 ET
Posted by: Snakehips,

Jeopardy clue today: Steely Dan: ----- Nineteen. Nobody got it. Sad.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 19:30:33 ET
Posted by: Caesar,

With a Gun is a superb song, what was called Country and Western, a term not heard much anymore. Specifically it was more Western, like Charlie Daniels or Commander Cody. Also excellent, Major Dude I would say is folk rock, with a Western tinge. Brooklyn is probably the most classic straight-forward country song they have done. Even so, I'd say it is in the same vein as the country rock that the Eagles and maybe Alabama have put out. Palmer sounds like Tim B.Schmitt or Glen Frey on lead vocals and the background harmonies are classic twangy country. Dirty Work is not jazzy at all, not hearing any of that. Where in the song is this jazz? If it existed Dirty Work might have some redeeming musical value.

Having said that, Dirty Work was and remains horrible regardless of who (including The Who) covers it.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 19:07:09 ET
Posted by: oh brutus,

Hey Lurker, yes sir, I'll move right along.
I've suffered through Brutus' opinions here as long as anyone, and don't see a problem with countering the drivel about Jimmy V not being able to "read or understand rhythm" or whatever the heck he was on about. Brutus didn't like the performance, ok. But his opinion of the musician are not correct, even if the performance was off.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 18:37:47 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, in its corner

I don't hear anything country-folk about Dirty Work. From the Rhodes piano intro to the cool sax of Jerome Richardson, it's an early attempt at adding a little jazz flavor to a straight-ahead pop tune. Nowhere near their best work, but there's nothing really wrong with it. I'd love to hear Donald sing it... wonder if he ever cut a demo.

try Dallas or better yet, Jones by Thomas Jefferson Kaye. Don & Walt could do country-folk when they wanted to, and do it quite well.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 18:33:44 ET
Posted by: Nicholas Urfe, Phraxos

From todays Wall Street Journal - an article entitled "How to be an Aging Rocker," about DF.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578196090924711724.html?KEYWORDS=donald+fagen

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 18:30:46 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. Still Drinkin'

Oops, bad cut and paste on the quote in the first paragraph. I'm sure you can figure it out, though.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 18:29:15 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

Oh Caesar, of course you are entitled to your opinion on the quality of the song, as is everyone. But if you "I didn't realize it was Steely Dan" I have to question your knowledge of the band's music.

As for your pronouncement"They were forced to write a country folk song which was in vogue at the time" I'm fairly sure you are dead wrong on this. This was their first album and there was about zero expectations from it. Had you said the same about With a Gun or Any Major Dude, your suspicion might have a bit more credence (not Clearwater Revival, mind you). Still even then I think you would be misguided.

Don and Walt have pretty much stayed away form their very early work and rarely play tunes they don't like. The mere fact that Dirty Work is a staple in their touring repertoire suggests they like the tune enough to keep playing it. I doubt that would be the case if they simply released it due to pressure from the record company.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 16:14:46 ET
Posted by: Oh Caesar, latin spelling

Dirty Work was bad when they made it and it hasn't gotten any better, no matter WHO does it. It is so bad that when I first heard it years later I didn't realize it was Steely Dan when a radio DJ announced it. They were forced to write a country folk song which was in vogue at the time to stick on the album, it went nowhere and deservedly so. Don and Walt swallowed it because they were a fledgling act trying to get started. In retrospect it was a wise move to get rid of Palmer as the vocalist and the schmaltzy Dirty Work alone is powerful prima facie evidence to support that move.

The fact that they even continue to perform Dirty Work is puzzling and must be attributed to the need to pander to the casual fans, and to feature the female backround singers to air out their tonsils.

Dirty Work is squarely in the category of very few SD songs that if they dare to perform it again live in 2013, I will get up and leave for a beer or pee break.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 14:04:07 ET
Posted by: Lurker,

oh brutus, if you had been following Brutus's posts here for the last few years you would know that he's anything but a "silly armchair quarterback". Now let it go because you're dead wrong.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 13:36:17 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

When CBAT was first released Dirty Work got a lot of play and I admit I really liked it a LOT. I still like it, but it is no longer one of my favorite SD tunes. Still, in concert, as a vehicle for one of the gals or a guest singer, it work well, IMO.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 13:33:21 ET
Posted by: job, free

The quasi-hit status of Dirty Work in the SD canon perplexes me. It never did anything for me. I remember in the 80s a local soft rock station would play an hour of greatest hits by various artists. For SD they played 12 songs. All 10 of their top 40 hits, IGY (also top 40), and Dirty Work. Phoebe Snow loved it. It's one of the few early tracks they don't mind breaking out live. It's been well covered. I don't get it.

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 10:07:18 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

I think the discussion about Jimmy V's keyboard intro for Lisa L is a bit overheated and misguided. Nevertheless I will join in with my own meaningless opinion of what is going on.

Clearly the keyboard into is odd, and not in the rhythm to which we are accustomed. I think the question here is whether Jimmy V lacks rhythmic ability on keyboard, purposefully played it that specific way or simply flubbed the intro. I'm inclined to believe the latter. I think he was attempting to do a little something, but didn't pull it off successfully--or at least to the liking of many here. I think the least likely explanation is that he lacks the rhythmic ability as that is without question, IMO. The fact that he is really a guitar player (not a keyboard player) might explain why a risk didn't pay off, but it is unlikely he lost his rhythmic sense on another instrument. Just IMO of course.

In case you haven't heard/seen it yet, here is LL's acoustic version of Dirty Work. No keyboard intro, but one might argue they flubbed the rhythm of the guitar intro here. But clearly that is an artistic choice in this case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXbXTqtiAqM

Date: Fri, January 04, 2013, 01:29:10 ET
Posted by: oh brutus,

Foot in my mouth? How does that cliche apply here?

Anyway, Brutus is not right about anything. Brutus thinks the part should be played with a different feel, and Jimmy V obviously does not agree. Even if Jimmy V was having a bad day, I'd rather have him in my band than a silly armchair quarterback.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 23:01:56 ET
Posted by: Lurker,

Oh Brutus - Leave Brutus alone. He's right and you're wrong. Stop putting your foot in your mouth.


Brutus - That's correct. Jimmy Vivino stated out as a keyboard player but quickly abandoned the instrument because he felt inadequate compared to other keyboard players out there. He felt that he had a much better chance of making it as a guitar player. He seemed to have made the right choice.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 22:33:31 ET
Posted by: oh brutus,

Yeah, should have been you up there instead of Jimmy. That's gotta hurt. You should have played the trombone part too - Jim Pugh would never have read and understood that rhythm so badly.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 20:28:18 ET
Posted by: Greg M, ny

<<Here's hoping the person who won those reel to reels on ebay is of a sharing nature.>>

Right! I can only imagine a 24-bit capture from a device with a nice clean tapehead. How great would that be?

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 18:52:22 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

Here's hoping the person who won those reel to reels on ebay is of a sharing nature.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 18:34:22 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

As far as I know Jimmy V.'s first and foremost a fine guitarist, not keyboardist.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 18:30:48 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

Dear Oh Brutus-

Bullshit. He rushed the rhythmic figure. Period. Ask any musician to listen to that and see what he/she says.

4
4 quarter note/ quarter note/ quarter note/ 2 beamed sixteenth notes/ sixteenth rest/ sixteenth note/ (Next measure same rhythm)

It's the last sixteenth note leading to the first beat of the next measure that he's rushing. Playing that figure accurately separates the inexperienced players from the more experienced players.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 16:36:06 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

A couple of posts deleted from the past couple of house--I don't have an email for the poster.

Heated debate is not only possible but essential to a forum like this for it to be truly genuine. But it's another thing for unnecessary and excessive nastiness--bad for our whole community. One can disagree without 'tude. There's a couple of other posts from another single poster that suffer from the same bad 'tude. Your point can be well made (even better made) without the nastiness.

Knock it off. Fly low. Be cool.

Jim

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 15:11:35 ET
Posted by: by the way brutus,

That's Jimmy Vivino playing keyboards there. Jimmy Vivino was the original guitarist in the Rock n Roll Soul Revue. So he's personally toured with both Donald and Walter doing Steely Dan tunes live. I think that means he already passed the rhythmic thingy you were on about.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 14:44:28 ET
Posted by: PETE EVANS, MANCHESTER UK

Whilst enjoying the remnants of my Christmas holiday I notice Sunken Condos still respectably in the top 75 of both US and UK Amazon best sellers lists, yet for some reason not in the Billboard 200 ! Seems a big discrepancy ? Do Amazon not get included in the sales list data for UK and US charts ?

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 12:53:43 ET
Posted by: Jim caswell, riverdale ny

hey len -

spend your nickel on gaga -

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 10:46:07 ET
Posted by: Quake, TV

There's a wretched TV rendition of IGY in which non other than the Don himself played keyboards.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 10:01:09 ET
Posted by: oh brutus,

Um, yeah, the keyboardist in Conan's band does not "READ AND UNDERSTAND RHYTHMIC NOTATION", like the notation he is reading and understanding there in the video.
Your taste in feel is different than his, that's all. You forgot to put the links for your nationally televised readings of Steely tunes with superior reading and understanding of rhythmic notation. Look forward to it.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 09:26:46 ET
Posted by: Brutus Charisma,

RE: Lisa Loeb's version of Dirty Work: Listen to how the electric piano (Wurly) player rushes the repeated syncopated rhythmic phrase over and over again in the intro. To a profesional musician this is a disturbing thing. SD would never tolerate rhythmic inaccuracies like that - never.

Rhythmic accuracy is a great part of what makes SD a treat for musicians. Great "feel" and groove are only made better if you can READ AND UNDERSTAND RHYTHMIC NOTATION. ALL OF SD'S DRUMMERS: GADD, PURDIE, MAROTTA, ETAL., CAN READ AND UNDERSTAND RHYTHMIC NOTATION. Not to mention all of SD's keyboardists: Grolnick, Sample, Omartian, etal. are/were all terrific readers/musicians.

Date: Thurs, January 03, 2013, 07:34:27 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Toronto

Oops, didn't notice it was a secure link. Rick Such of Inside Musicast picked Headquarters (my latest Monkey House release) as his album of the year for 2012. Sunken Condos is also on the list!

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 22:53:04 ET
Posted by: Greg M, White Plains NY

Did we ever get Jon Herington to answer the questions we wrote in?
Thanks.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 21:50:24 ET
Posted by: len, roanoke

They better do something different in 2013 before I spend another nickel on them.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 21:37:45 ET
Posted by: condo bass players,

Current issue of Bass Player magazine does a "round-table" (including live by phone) interview of the 5 bass players on Sunken Condos, with Michael L. standing in for Donald's pseudo keyboard bass player Harlan Post.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 19:57:55 ET
Posted by: Darius M.,

There will probably not be much of a Steely Dan tour in 2013. Donald is already committed to the Dukes of September for about six months according to the latest information. And unless this 2013 tour includes some rarities, maybe some Walter tunes, Nightfly and Kamakiriad stuff mostly all of which has never been played live, and especially Sunken Condos material I am not going. We know that Donald can't go solo and sell enough tickets, but he has tons of material to crank into maybe half of a Steely Dan show.
We do not need another rehash of Steely Dan hits and bogus covers like that Mock Turtle song type bullshit.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 19:08:22 ET
Posted by: Dan Fan,

Fagan was quoted in People magazine last month that Steely Dan will indeed be touring this spring/summer. Expect the unveiling of the tour soon.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 18:37:04 ET
Posted by: W1P, Washington Zoo

Watching CNN during the Fiscal Cliff humor yesterday (the college football games sucked) and they throw it to a remote shot of Joe Biden leaving a sandwich shop while the reporters shout questions at him. Playing on the speakers at this shop? My Old School!

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 18:29:43 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Manatee Bar. It's Happy Hour!

I have yet to hear anything official about a 2013 SD tour, but Don has mentioned they will be touring this coming summer on several occasions.

Don B, that link goes nowhere for me.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 18:26:25 ET
Posted by: Slim Whitman Jr., New York

Huh? Did I miss something here? Who mentioned anything about a Steely Dan tour for 2013?

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 15:53:00 ET
Posted by: Ready And Waiting, Florida

Steely Dan 2013 tour dates tba soon? I hope they don't bypass us this time.

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 13:48:45 ET
Posted by: sid,

Don - Who's Rick Such? Don't tell me...he was the best man at your wedding?

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 12:32:42 ET
Posted by: CC, S

Did they get their 2 million?

http://tinyurl.com/aulecjp

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 11:01:58 ET
Posted by: franklin, tt

I also read in a blog by dave dimartino that they played dog eat dog in 72

Date: Wed, January 02, 2013, 10:51:17 ET
Posted by: DonBreithaupt, Toronto

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151211944120835&set=a.50285765834.63032.714560834&type=1&theater

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 23:33:28 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, Biscayne Bay

very interesting ebay find. apparently features several different mixes of Parker's Band and Any Major Dude. it's rather alarming how many times he mentions that the tape can be reused and recorded over! god forbid.

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 21:20:07 ET
Posted by: Giles of the River, @Dunhilll Records

re- 1972-1973 Steely Dan live songs...

if you can track down that old interview with the LA Free Press....the writer..mentions them performing 'Pearl of the Quarter" at a 1972 concert...Palmer on vocals I presume

also it just makes common sense that they performed all of the first album in 1972 and early 1973....
they used to do 'Change of the Guard' as an encore....
apparently at a concert in Salt Lake City in 1973 they performed a lot of new tracks...ie non-CBAT...that the reviewer did not like...will try to tack down that article


old days on ebay again.... where are these tape coming from???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scotch-Master-reel-to-reel-Tape-STEELY-DAN-for-REVOX-AMPEX-AKAI-TEAC-/261147973430?pt=Music_Other_Formats&hash=item3ccda1d736

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 18:44:46 ET
Posted by: The Dean, St. Augustine Beach

To fwiw, re: Coldplay sound check.


I will refrain from passing judgement on your attending a Coldplay show, if you share what song/songs from SC were sound checked.

:#)

Just teasin on the Coldplay crack, but am very interested in what SC songs were played.

Happy Fucking New Year to all here at The Blue.

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 17:39:34 ET
Posted by: fwiw, Brooklyn in da house!!

Coldplay had their sound guy play SC after/ to finalize their soundcheck the other night in the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Wow, pumped up the volume and the band was rockin' and a bobbin' to the tunage. Great concert btw.

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 11:23:47 ET
Posted by: Lurker Ray, Sunny SoBe

Any World Live

Donald gave it try on the opening
night of the 2006 Summer Tour with
Mike McD in Sudstown but apparently
wasn't "feeling it".

My two favorite versions were when
he had Jeff Young sing it a month
and half later for only 2 shows,
San Diego & Soboba. The only two
shows without Mike that year and
the last two shows to feature the
"1st Set - Intermission - 2nd Set"
format.

Thanks for the "This All Too Mobile
Home" link. Nice to have another
souvenir of my favorite show.

If you use this link and splice the
audio, you get a great rendition of
the whole encore in all of it's glory
that unforgettable night in NYC. And
sadly missing from the audience capture
that night. The new audio is very nice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxyhhl6QJNs

I hope everyone here has a wonderful,
healthy & prosperous new year.

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 08:54:35 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Happy new year. Here's hoping for a new SD album.

Date: Tues, January 01, 2013, 08:52:38 ET
Posted by: Hep Tones,

To all on the Blue, and especially Hoops, THANK YOU, and a Happy & Healthy 2013 to all!

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 23:08:40 ET
Posted by: irving , azoff

leaving live nation - wonder if he'll keep managing steely dan?
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-irving-azoff-exits-live-nation-20121231,0,5264112.story

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 19:20:14 ET
Posted by: Hutch,

I hope all my friends on the Blue have a Happy New Year filled with good music, good friends, good libations and Peace. Hoops, thanks so much for all you do. You're a dedicated soul my friend!

It's been a great year with the release of Sunken Condos and news of a Steely Dan tour in the Summer so things are good.

We've lost a lot of great musicians this year. The list seems longer than usual. I think though that Donald and Walter are in their prime right now and we have a lot more good music to experience in the near future.

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 11:43:56 ET
Posted by: FF, X

Other clues to support Blue Girl's theory.

Hoop earrings.
Jim, you're on a deadly spree.

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 11:42:45 ET
Posted by: Big Fan, at home - Snowbound

The best source for 70s SD concert dates is here:
http://www.broberg.pp.se/sd_concerts.htm

In terms of availability we're not allowed to talk about that here for unreleased concerts.

I have to assume since they haven't been taken down the two concerts available at the Concert Vault are OK. Both recorded by Dinkie Dawson - who I got to meet once seeing Denny Dias play in RI. These are excellent soundboard recordings.

Rainbow Theatre (London, England) May 20, 1974 and Paramount Theatre Seattle (Seattle, WA) July 1, 1974. Of course there is the official B side recording of Bodhisattva.

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/concerts/search.html?t=steely%20dan&tb=0

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 11:40:25 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

not sure if this is has been posted before - This All Too Mobile home from the rarities show.

Not pictured: me, doing far too many fist-pumps.

http://vimeo.com/29217118

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 10:52:59 ET
Posted by: Bluegirl,

I think that Sunken Condos is a nod to the Bluebook by Donald. He has made no other albums with such a rich blue color. he probably started with the blue color idea and then came up with a title that would go with that deep blue.

Date: Mon, December 31, 2012, 06:11:19 ET
Posted by: Jazzassin, in the condo, with extended snorkel

Thanks for all interesting links and music tips of lately.

Especially Denton,TX-based Snarky Puppy has got a new big fan in Norway.
Thanks to Philippe for opening that particular door!

And finally, A Happy New Year to all Bluebookers & Dandomists!


\m/(^_^)\m/

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 23:19:08 ET
Posted by: hoops, chicago

The spam narratives should be gone now for a while. Thanks for your patience and special thanks to Dean.

Been down the past ten days with an illness not unlike the one Hillary Clinton has been reported to have, without, of course, the concussion and subsequent, ahem, "brain hemorrhage." So will be catching up on some things. "Twenty Years of" --- You are right---the peeps thing is about 10 years too old and is long, long overdue for a change; however, do keep in mind that the Blue is only 11 years old; It's what is today's Dandom Digest that turns 20 in March. While this place has fast paced updates, the Digest reaches a much, much larger Steely Dan fan audience of well over 3,000. The next Dandom Digest covers the month of December and goes out tomorrow afternoon or so, Dec 31, Chicago time. So if you have something that needs in...

"Spaghetti" -- People don't think "Miss Marlene" sounds like "IGY"--just a certain riff that is especially prominent in the beginning and throughout the groove.

Moresz latersz. Fly low and be cool........Thanks.

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 21:57:32 ET
Posted by: Brain Hemorrhager,

That Miss Marlene question would probably qualify as a "hemorrhager" rather than a strainer. i was watching Bob's Burgers or Family Guy when it came out.

I'd call it a Spaghetti "Extruder", which is traumatic for the pasta being pushed through the shaping die.

DF accentuates a few of those at the BEGINNING of first and third lines on several songs, Glamour Profession is notable. Rarer when he does it at the end.

Yes we're gonna have a wiiiiiiing ding...

It's just a dugout that my Daaasd built...

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 20:59:32 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

seems I've made a boo boo. Barrytown played in Irvine 74 not Memphis. Sorry ,mixed up my boots

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 18:40:09 ET
Posted by: Spaghetti (not brain), Strainer

Greg M wins.

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 18:36:09 ET
Posted by: Greg M, ..

Spaghetti: is it New Frontier?

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 18:34:16 ET
Posted by: Greg M, .

Any World live from 2006 is on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irAXP9K0Hq0

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 18:30:59 ET
Posted by: Spaghetti (not brain), Strainer

There was a consensus that Miss Marlene is most reminiscent of IGY, but I find the verses to be structured similarly to another trilogy song.

In the first and third lines of each verse, the second to the last syllable is elongated. Proooooooo rolls. Laaaaaaaane child. Skyyyyyyyyyyyy high. Moooooooooon beam. Leeeeeeeeeeague night. It is accentuated with backing vocals (sans 1st verse) in a manner similar to this trilogy song that also has elongated syllables in the same spot.

Name that song.

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 16:27:08 ET
Posted by: Yoyoma, barrytown usa

sid, shoot me an email

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 16:05:21 ET
Posted by: sid,

Greg M - Live version of Any World? In concert? Who's singing?

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 11:57:02 ET
Posted by: Sweden and Scandinavia, See above

And an even Happier New Year to one all reading this.

And everyone else... :)

/PGE

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 09:06:11 ET
Posted by: Greg M, c

Chris nh, a live audience recording of Any World actually does exist. It's quite interesting.

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 08:54:41 ET
Posted by: Barrytown, Live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ewF40tqchw

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 05:24:02 ET
Posted by: SS, HK

Jim Taylor asked;

'If anyone could tell me the tuning that Walter uses on "Surf and-or Die," that would be great. Thanks! '

Are you sure he played on that track ?

Adam Rogers is listed this way in the credits for 11TOW as they appear on SteelyDan.com

Electric Guitar: Adam Rogers (Lucky Henry, Surf And/Or Die, Hat Too Flat, solo #2 on Lucky Henry)

Date: Sun, December 30, 2012, 01:40:50 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Early Dan Tours: I don't, that was my point! I'm sure they played a few more from that album, but the only bootlegs from the 70s I've been able to find are from '74 which only feature the songs I didn't list.

Thanks for the Barrytown info ... although I have that Memphis show (I think) and I don't see it listed there, hmm...

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 20:34:57 ET
Posted by: Twenty Years of, BLUE

The Blue is moving into year 20 in 2013. It seems like only yesterday I gazed through the glass.

The logo on the Blue should be changed from those creepy marshmallow easter bunnies to something cool like a Blue 20 wave graphic. That guy Jeff Wax could do up a new logo in Sunken Condos blue.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 20:08:02 ET
Posted by: inquiring minds want to know,

We have got to get to the bottom of this.

every old fart who was alive during the 73 Steely Dan tours needs to post everything they know on this site as quick as possible.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 20:01:31 ET
Posted by: jonny darko,

Where is there info on the 1970s tours? Somebody must have a holey rag of a T shirt with the cities listed. Did they open for Chicago or Three Dog Night?

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 19:52:03 ET
Posted by: SharkDeVille, Barrytown

my live version is from 3/10/74 in Irvine. killer Clarence White-esque b-bender solo from the Skunky one.

I'm sure they played it more than once though.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 15:58:56 ET
Posted by: bikemann17, nj

Barrytown played in 74 Memphis

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 15:42:20 ET
Posted by: early dan tours,

@Chris of NH or others

How could it be that, according to your list, that half of CBAT was never played live when only CBAT's 10 songs and CTE's 8 songs existed when they went on the first tour? Did they only play 12 or 13 songs of their own material? Do you have any setlists?

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 13:17:45 ET
Posted by: EC, NY

M/D/O/P - Thanks for the stories and the seasonal chuckle. I agree that we are grossly outnumbered here, and that better internet manners are in order.

Someone I ran into recently said to me that Steely Dan is "not the kind of music you actually listen to, it's the sort of thing you hear in snippets in an elevator or a Home Depot". Turns out he is a major '80s Genesis fan and he "hates jazz". Figures. That's also now the 3rd time I've heard someone refer to In The Ghetto in connection with SC. Sad but true.

Thanks also to It's Like This for the Jim Gordon interview, and to Jim Taylor for the Ray Collins piece, both were well worth reading.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 11:55:28 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Thanks yet again Tripstar .. fascinating stuff.

I agree with your rankings as well. The Nightfly is a perfect album. The other three have flaws to varying degrees. Kama is the one I just can't get past the cheesy production on, no matter how hard I try. Oddly enough, I don't have the same problem with 11TOW; it adds to the album's melancholiac claustrophobia.

Wholly different subject:
As I have far too much time on my hands until after new years, I've been trying to put together playlists of the albums Steely Dan has yet to perform live. So far I've tackled CBAT, Countdown, Pretzel Logic, and Katy Lied. Here's my master list of songs that, to my knowledge, have never been performed:

CBAT:
Kings
Only A Fool Would Say That
Fire in the Hole
Change of the Guard
Turn That Heartbeat Over Again

*I have a feeling at least a few of these were played in the 70s, but from what I could assemble they're not available on any bootlegs (which are all from 74). Can anyone confirm this or deny it?

Countdown:
Razor Boy

Pretzel:
Barrytown
Through with Buzz
With A Gun
Charlie Freak

Katy Lied:
Rose Darling
YGT II - full (I use the '74 live jam version here)
Any World - I know this was performed a little in 06 but I don't believe that a bootleg exists, can anyone confirm?

Every so often a "master list" of never performed songs crops up; once I finish this project I'll try and post it somewhere.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 05:44:04 ET
Posted by: tripstar, 35,786 kms above Equator

More DF Uncut excerpts:
Q: "Between you and Walter, are you more likely to reveal?" DF: "Walter may be more defensive than I am, generally speaking, but his records are in a way more revealing. Kind of in a shocking sort of way. But it may be what he's revealing is more shocking. He had a kind of rough childhood, so his worldview may be a little dimmer than mine."
Q: "After you completed the Nightfly trilogy I thought you weren't going to write autobiographically any more..." DF: "Yeah, that turned out to be false. I tried not to. But next time I'm going to make it. I'm going to go more Steely Dan with the next one (...) more journalistic, more objective, with characters that are further away from myself."

(On keeping up with new methods of recording) DF: "I don't like to interact with technology myself very much. I started out with sequencers very early on because Roger Nichols, our engineer, was into computers. But at a certain point I could see the technology was going to overwhelm me. I was moving beats around in a sequencer and I'd stopped making music. So I just gave up on it and had someone else take care of that."

(In this respect, the Uncut article includes this Rickie Lee Jones quote: "Donald had his engineer invent the drum machine. That tells you all you need to know. He worked with the greatest drummers, but he still needed a drum machine..." I have to say, Ms. Jones, that does NOT tell me all I need to know. This portrayal of Donald as a precision-obsessed maniac is beginning to annoy me, as I feel there's such a lot more to his work than just that. Oh well...)

Q: "Do you feel that the failure to keep up with technology makes you feel old?" DF: "Many other things make me feel old but that's part of... I think technology is just part of a much larger cultural change."
(More on the subject of ageing later)

The article includes a "How to buy Donald Fagen" section with brief reviews of all his four solo albums. Ms. Uhelszki gives "The Nightfly a 9/10 ("...lyrics are more personal (than SD's), less sardonic, even romantic at times, recalling a bygone era where dress is formal, harmonies close, nights are endless and the jazz as cool as an oyster."); "Kamakiriad" gets an 8/10 ("...sounds like Aja with a slight soul swing... scrutinises middle age, but from a greater remove"); "Morph" is given a 10/10 ("...obsessed with his own sense of mortality, while revealing his pain and paranoia. He's dropped much of the sangfroid of his SD vocals, replacing it with a vulnerability that feels like his authentic voice"), and "Condos" a 9/10 ("...mirrors America's anxiety, as well as an anxiety about ageing. While promising that he no longer felt compelled to write autobiographically in his solo stuff, that doesn't seem to be tha case here, and that's a good thing. Standout track is "Weather in My Head"; as good as anything he's ever done.")
My scores would be 10 for "TN", 9 for "K", 8 for "MtC" and so far 9 for "SC". And I disagree with the reviewer's assessment of "Weather", but what do I know?

Merry Xmas everybody... if you like that sort of thing.

Date: Sat, December 29, 2012, 00:38:05 ET
Posted by: liz, reptile cage

If Don was forced to have lunch with either a "cheese eater" who misspells his name and whose knowledge of SD dates to 1981 or "one of us", he would probably like his chances of getting out alive with the former.

Date: Fri, December 28, 2012, 20:48:31 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto

Not sure what just happened there with my post, but here is another try:

Wishing everybody on The Blue a Happy Noo Year, and ringing it in just a bit early with a couple of True Life SD-related stories.....

At an Xmas gathering recently, someone (not yours truly) brought up the subject of Steely Dan. The conversation turned through points like "studio perfection", "clever lyrics", and "some of the best players"....the basic SD clichés as understood by the Classic Rock-Consuming Public at Large. Then someone (again, not me) mentioned that Fagen (although I suspect if this person had been writing the name down it would have been "Fagan") had a new solo album out. Quick to take the bait, someone (OK, me this time) asked, "Is it any good?". The answer was that yes, it was very good, and that it contained among other notable things a cover version of "In The Ghetto" (!). "Really - you mean the Elvis Presley tune?", I asked disingenuously. "Uh, yeah...but he rearranges it quite a bit in his version", was the unbelievably well-informed answer. This same individual spent a good portion of the evening educating some younger folks about popular music history. After overhearing some of what he had to say, I'm pretty sure he's a major Wikipedia contributor.

Mildly amusing tale #2: Wherein yet another person contradicts me when I tell them I've seen "Steely Dan" live many times (this has happened to me twice in the last couple of years). Again, the culprit/contrarian/music authority is a balding/greying/ponytailing "music expert". As I admire a still-sealed original vinyl copy of The Royal Scam in a bin at an "indie" music shop, buddy who works there comments that SD is "probably the best American rock act of the past forty years". I not only don't argue the point, but I offer that I too am a big fan, and that I've even travelled to see them play live in New Yawk City at the Beacon Theater. "Not Steely Dan, you didn't!", he scolds me emphatically, adding, "Those guys were strictly an L.A. studio act - they never performed live, it was just Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and a bunch of hired guns!". I resist all urges to correct the miscreant, because, well, how do ya argue with an expert?

You DON'T & I didn't - hey, at least he knew enough to name-check WB and DF. I may be greying, just a bit, but I'm not bald or even balding, and I've never had a ponytail. For the record, I've also never worked in a "record store", or ever sported record-store-clerk-black-horn-rimmed-glasses.

The moral of these seemingly-pointless stories? Even at Christmas/New Years, we (us fanatic SD collectors/concertgoers/fans/friends) are wildly outnumbered by the Greater Cheese-Eating Masses. We're a pretty small group, so maybe us SD folks should really stick together, no? In light of that thought, I hereby propose that during all of the upcoming year, The Blue should magically become a place where fellow SD lovers treat each other with respect, where crude personal insults/arbitrary attacks are never posted, and where interesting info gets spread from those who have it to those who want it. Yes, I post here occasionally as "M/O/D/P", but my real name, if you haven't guessed it by now, is Pollyanna..........

Date: Fri, December 28, 2012, 20:43:05 ET
Posted by: M/O/D/P, Toronto

Wishing everybody on The Blue a Happy Noo Year, and ringing it in just a bit early with a couple of recent True Life SD-related stories.....

At an Xmas gathering recently, someone (not yours truly) brought up the subject of Steely Dan. The conversation turned through points like "studio perfection", "clever lyrics", and "some of the best players"....the basic SD clichés as understood by the Classic Rock-Consuming Public At Large. Then someone (again, not me) mentioned that Fagen (although I suspect if this person had been writing the name down it would have been "Fagan") had a new solo album out. Quick to take the bait, someone (OK, me this time) asked, "Is it any good?". The answer was that yes, it was very good, and that it contained among other notable things a cover version of "In The Ghetto" (!). "Really - you mean the Elvis Presley tune?", I asked disingenuously. "Uh, yeah...but he rearranges it quite a bit in his version", was the unbelievably well-informed answer. This same individual spent a good portion of the evening educating some younger folks about popular music history. After overhearing some of what he had to say, I'm pretty sure he's a major Wikipedia contributor.

Mildly amusing tale #2: Wherein yet another person contradicts me when I tell them I've seen "Steely Dan" live many times (this has happened to me twice in the last couple of years). Again, the culprit/contrarian/music authority is a balding/greying/ponytailing "music expert". As I admire a still-sealed original vinyl copy of The Royal Scam in a bin at an "indie" music shop, buddy who works there randomly comments that SD is "probably the best American rock act of the past forty years". I not only don't argue the point, but I offer that I too am a big fan, and that I've even travelled to see them play live in New Yawk City at the Beacon Theater several times. "Not Steely Dan, you didn't!", he scolds me emphatically, adding, "Those guys were strictly an L.A. studio act - they never performed live - it was just Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and a bunch of hired guns!". I resist all urges to correct the miscreant, because, well, how do ya argue with an expert?

You DON'T & I didn't - hey, at least he knew enough to name-check WB and DF. I may be greying, just a bit, but I'm not bald or even balding, and I've never had a ponytail. For the record, I've also never worked in a "record store", or ever sported record-store-clerk-black-horn-rimmed-glasses.

The moral of these seemingly-pointless stories? Even at Christmas/New Years, we (us fanatic SD collectors/concertgoers/fans/friends) are wildly outnumbered by the Greater Cheese-Eating Masses. We're a pretty small group, so maybe us SD folks should really stick together, no? In light of that thought, I hereby propose that during all of the upcoming year, The Blue should magically become a place where fellow SD lovers always treat each other with respect, where crude personal insults/arbitrary attacks are never posted, and where interesting info gets spread from those who have it to those who want it. Yes, I post here occasionally as "M/O/D/P", but my real name, if you haven't guessed it by now, is "Pollyanna"........

Date: Fri, December 28, 2012, 09:50:59 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Seriously, where do these people come from?

slloɹ„¨

Date: Fri, December 28, 2012, 09:46:31 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

Dan fans, who are also Zappa fans, might find this sad. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_22269275

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 19:09:22 ET
Posted by: all of us, pop quiz

who thinks that the following songs are NOT "rare" cuts?

Doctor Wu
American Lovers
Second Arrangement
All too Mobile Home
Pearl of the Quarter
Jack of Speed '96
You Got The Bear
Mobile Home


hahahahahaha

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 15:46:30 ET
Posted by: Chris, nh

Michael, you made it too easy!

Indeed - happy holidays to all. Thanks to Hoops to giving us all an outlet to obsess over our favorite band.

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 09:11:22 ET
Posted by: Michael,

Here's hoping for a new SD album next year.

Here's a little quiz: Which SD outtake begins with a BbM7 - Gm7






noʎ ʇnoqɐ ǝɯoɥ ǝʇýɹʍ ʇ,uɐɔ ý

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 08:59:47 ET
Posted by: fagenism, Bleecker Street

Thanks to all BlueBookers for making the whole Sunken Condos chapter so enjoyable. You know who you are.

Wishing everyone a Cuervo Gold and/or Fine Colombian filled holiday.

"She stays with me, I know heaven is right here on Earth."

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 06:48:38 ET
Posted by: Funkaholic1972,

Just poppin' in to wish all of you Happy Holidays and a Steely new year!

Date: Thurs, December 27, 2012, 00:22:03 ET
Posted by: Jim Taylor, Hello Baton Rouge

I am not a "regular" here, but I enjoy the back and forth and getting news on my favorite band. So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and all the other wonderful holidays to come. If anyone could tell me the tuning that Walter uses on "Surf and-or Die," that would be great. Thanks!

Date: Tues, December 25, 2012, 20:29:15 ET
Posted by: Steve Gennarelli, Tampa

The Dean -

You're Welcome. "All Good Things" is an offbeat mystery.
Roger Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars.
It was ok, but I really only perked up during the "SD" moments.

Date: Tues, December 25, 2012, 18:19:13 ET
Posted by: Onbujbiy, New York

, <a href="http://hotellescolonnes2002.com">Pay Day Loans UK</a>, [url="http://hotellescolonnes2002.com"]Pay Day Loans UK[/url], http://hotellescolonnes2002.com Pay Day Loans UK, uzdaf,

Date: Tues, December 25, 2012, 16:38:10 ET
Posted by: The Dean, Christmas at The Beach

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all on The Blue.

Denise, that was a lovely design. Thanks for sharing.

Even It's Like This made an actual contribution (his first?) with his link to the article on Jim Gordon. I will consider that our Christmas present from him/her.

Steve, thanks for the reminder re: "All Good Things". I still have yet to check it out. For some reason it seems movies featuring Dan music (or compositions) tend to suck--I guess I am thinking of Me, Myself and Irene. A movie with Ryan Gosling & Kirsten Dunst doesn't sound like much of an improvement, but maybe I will give it a shot someday when I am missing the NYC vibe.

Mostly a hearty thank you to Hoops, our Fearless Leader and benefactor. He generously supplies us with The Blue, the Christmas gift that keeps on giving. Salute!